The hunt for the lost gold is on! Jem Coulter and his friends celebrate the end of the Civil War in their town with firecrackers, parades, and anticipation for a bear-and-bull fight. But chaos ensues when a bull breaks loose, causing wood splinters and fence posts to rain down and break his cousin Nathan's legs. With the Coulter family unable to afford a San Francisco surgeon, the family and their friend Strike-It-Rich Sam devise a plan to raise money. Jem, his sister Ellie, and Strike embark on a quest to recover lost gold. Will they find their treasure in the valley, or will they have to strike more gold in order to help Nathan?

Features 55 historic sites throughout the Hudson Valley region of New York State that, while not mainstream tourist attractions, boast significant ties to local and national history.

When Nathan breaks multiple bones in his legs, Jem and Sam embark on a preilous journey to recover lost gold at the bottom of a mountain valley to raise the funds needed for a skilled surgeon to save Nathan's legs and enable him to walk again.