Parents' Guide to

Pirate Gold of Adak Island

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

History and science combine in modern pirate treasure hunt.

Pirate Gold of Adak Island TV show poster.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 7+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 5+

A walk down memory lane

As a child living on Adak in the 80's, I innertubed in the snow on Kuluk Beach. I watched the houses in Navy 1 be delivered. And babysat for people in that area. Seeing the historical content of pirate gold, nuclear warheads and the influence of Adak to the war gave an incredible new dimension to my stomping grounds. It was an amazing walk down memory lane, and a great opportunity to bring new stories of my childhood alive to my children. I cannot wait to share it with my mom.

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models
age 8+

A totally original must watch.

Incredible story. The explosives around the island are terrifying. A truly authentic watch with some incredibly talented hunters. Loved the truly obscure history. Such an original show. Binged it with the whole family twice.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

The interesting series offers viewers a chance to see a modern-day treasure hunt on one of the most remote places in the United States. It shows how the team combines details from the local legends passed down through generations about the gold with historical and geographical research to retrace Captain Dwargstof's steps. It also reveals how they use this information, along with modern technology, to determine where and how to dig. However, Pirate Gold of Adak is as much a historical narrative as it is a treasure hunt, and (perhaps unwittingly) reveals the adverse impact the decommissioning of the Adak Naval Base has had on the island and the people who live there. It's not the most action-packed of adventures, and there are scenes that look and sound staged. But it's a compelling watch for those who enjoy learning more about U.S. history and geography.

TV Details

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