Amazing Discoveries Found In The Most Bizarre Places

Location: Arlington, Vermont
Year Discovered: 2006
Est. Value: $15.4 million*

While doing a postmortem excavation in their father’s house, two brothers stumbled upon a startling discovery concealed within the walls. It was an original artwork by Norman Rockwell. However, this Rockwell matched the one that was hanging a few inches away on the wall. The brothers’ father was, as it turned out, concealing the expensive original from his divorced wife. He installed a convincing replica in its place and concealed the real Rockwell behind the wall. It remained there for many years until the father’s death. This painting, titled “Breaking Home Ties,” went up for $15.4 million later at a Sotheby’s auction.

Location: Hollywood, California
Year Discovered: 1991
Est. Value: $1.5 million*

This rare literary relic was thought to be lost for more than a century, but in 1991 it was found in an attic in a trunk. The renowned writer Mark Twain penned the 665 pages by hand. This version of Huckleberry Finn challenged our preconceived notions about contemporary literature by departing significantly from the book’s original text. The manuscript was sent by Mark Twain to Buffalo, New York, where it disappeared, therefore the U.S.C. Mark Twain Project stated that they “believed” it would never be found. The granddaughter of a close friend of Twain was the owner of the trunk, which she promptly gave to Sotheby’s for confirmation.