Found in Hidden Falls Park by Tom Opatz, Dan Opatz, Mark Nicklawske, and Phil Sinn, four veteran hunters that gathered up the white diaper that held the medallion at about 12:15 a.m. amidst hundreds of others. Two of the men were recent fathers so that angle was played up in the next day's paper. Cellular phones were mentioned as a useful technological tool for the first time.

Clue 1
This is the start of something big,
It's a really fun beginning.
Our treasure hunt is under way,
And it's cash that you'll be winning.
A useful first clue, "the start of something big" refers to Itasca Avenue which overlooks Hidden Falls Park. Lake Itasca is the starting point for the Mississippi River.

Clue 2
The treasure is hiding
In our capital city.
Get out there and find it,
And you'll be sitting pretty.
Rules out the suburbs.

Clue 3
With clues that are truly poetic
And rhythm that really swings,
We bring this hint that will help you
Get right to the bottom of things.

The medallion you seek
Is surrounded by white.
We hope these few words
Will shed some light.
This is a rare early two-verse clue. Generally, they are reserved for the double-digit clues, 10 through 12. This is just an interesting aside that may be the link to why there are now 12 clues instead of 11. Getting to the point of this big clue, diapers serve the "bottom" and they're "white." You might also get something vaguely baby-oriented from the word "swings." Another interpretation, given by Marcia Brass, equates "poetic" with Longfellow, a poet and a street near the park; further, she believed "rhythm that really swings" meant a song, which related to the fact that Longfellow wrote "Song of Hiawatha." A stretch? Somebody still needs to answer for 1996's "can-do affair."

Clue 4
Wheels by the millions
Have turned near our spot.
But it's pretty and placid
'Cause a freeway it's not.
Lots of trucks are built at the nearby Ford plant.

Clue 5
Not far from the place
Where the treasure does sit,
Walkers and joggers
Try to stay fit.
"Walkers and joggers" calls up a bike path which borders the park.

Clue 6
You can see them
If you look up high.
Some perfect circles
Are in the sky.
This controversially difficult clue refers to the orange aviation warning balls noticeable on power lines over the Mississippi River.

Clue 7
Lots of places to picnic
When the weather's finally warm.
And even when it's raining,
You'll be protected from the storm.
As is the case in most parks, there are tables and shelters in the park.

Clue 8
H₂0 can be found
And to be quite precise,
Sometimes it's water
And sometimes it's ice.
It's late in the game for the inevitable water clue (a staple of many hunts). It refers to the Mississippi.

Clue 9
Lots of gates spell trouble
On the tricky political scene.
But some of them can be helpful,
If only you use your bean.
The "gates" refer to the North and South Gates that serve as entrances to Hidden Falls Park.

Clue 10
Think of fast rushing water
That's not in your view,
And the lucky treasure finder
Might well be you.

If our treasure
Is what you're after,
You can have fun
And a little laughter.
The water not in view refers to Hidden Falls; "a little laughter" is a mini-ha-ha or Minnehaha Park, directly across the river.

Clue 11
Hidden Falls Park
Is where it resides.
It's east of two arrows,
Not too many strides.
This marks the medallion's spot east of two obvious traffic signs indicating turns with arrows.

Clue 12
Due to the lack of an afternoon edition of the newspaper, the hunts for 1991–1993 have only 11 clues. It wasn't that drastic a change, as the rule has not always been twelve clues. In fact, as we go back through the years you'll note that there used to be 13 clues.