How Geocaching Began
From a GPS Stash Hunt to a Global Adventure:
Every cache hunt has a starting point. The story of geocaching begins in 2000 with GPS enthusiasts, a hidden bucket, and a simple challenge that encouraged people to get outdoors and explore.
Today, geocaching is enjoyed in countries around the world, but its origins were remarkably humble. What started as an experiment by one GPS enthusiast soon grew into a worldwide adventure that continues to inspire discovery, exploration, and community.
The First GPS Stash Hunt
On 3 May 2000, computer consultant Dave Ulmer placed a black bucket in the woods near Beavercreek, Oregon, not far from Portland. His goal was to test the improved accuracy of civilian GPS technology by giving fellow enthusiasts a set of coordinates and seeing if they could locate a hidden container.
Ulmer called his experiment the "Great American GPS Stash Hunt".
The idea was refreshingly simple:
- Hide a container
- Record its coordinates using a GPS receiver
- Share the coordinates online
- Invite others to find it
Participants followed one straight forward rule:
"Take some stuff, leave some stuff."
The original bucket contained a logbook and pencil, along with a collection of items including books, videos, software, money and even a can of beans! Ulmer shared the coordinates with members of the sci.geo.satellite-nav online community:
N 45° 17.460 W 122° 24.800
The first geocache had been hidden.
Celebrate that famous first trade item with the Original Can of Beans (O.C.B.) 3D Trackable Replica, featuring a removable top and two tracking codes at Geocaching.com.
That humble bucket lives on in the 25th Anniversary 3D Bucket Geocoin, a miniature tribute to the Original Stash with a working handle, magnetic lid and its own tracking icon at Geocaching.com.
An Outdoor Idea Spreads Online
The concept immediately caught the attention of GPS enthusiasts.
Within just three days, two people had successfully located the stash and reported their experiences back to the online community. Other enthusiasts were inspired to create hidden containers of their own and publish new coordinates for people to find.
What began as a technical GPS experiment quickly became something much larger. Instead of spending time behind computer screens, participants were using technology as a reason to head outdoors and discover new locations.
As interest grew, Mike Teague began collecting cache coordinates from around the world and documenting them on his personal website. A dedicated GPS Stash Hunt mailing list soon followed, giving participants a place to share stories, discuss finds, and help shape the future of the hobby.
Where the Name "Geocaching" Came From
One challenge remained: the activity needed a better name.
Many participants felt that the word "stash" carried negative associations and did not fully capture the spirit of the hobby. On 30 May 2000, geocacher Matt Stum suggested a new term on the mailing list:
Geocaching
The name combined two words that perfectly reflected the activity's unique blend of exploration and technology.
Geo: A Worldwide Adventure
The prefix "geo" comes from the Greek word for Earth.
It was an ideal choice because the activity could be enjoyed almost anywhere in the world. The term also aligned naturally with GPS navigation, geography, and outdoor exploration.
Cache: Hidden Treasure Meets Technology
The word "cache" has roots in French and refers to a hidden place used to store items or valuables.
For explorers and adventurers, a cache evokes images of hidden treasure and secret discoveries. Interestingly, the term also has a technological meaning, referring to stored information that can be quickly retrieved by a computer.
The combination created a name that perfectly reflected the hobby:
- Earth-wide exploration
- Hidden containers
- GPS technology
- The joy of discovery
The name stuck.
Although "GPS Stash Hunt" continued to be used during the early months, geocaching soon became the accepted term as the community expanded and the hobby evolved further following Jeremy Irish's involvement later in 2000.
From One Bucket to a Global Community
What makes the origin story of geocaching remarkable is its simplicity.
No complex rules. No expensive equipment beyond a GPS receiver. No organised events.
Just a hidden container, a set of coordinates, and an invitation to explore.
More than two decades later, those same core elements remain at the heart of geocaching. Whether you're searching for a tiny magnetic cache in the city, hiking to a remote mountaintop container, or attending a major geocaching event, the experience still traces its roots back to that first hidden bucket in Oregon.
A Keepsake of Those Beginnings
As geocaching celebrates more than 25 years of adventure, many geocachers enjoy collecting items that commemorate the hobby's history.
The Geocaching Since 2000 Geocoin celebrates those early beginnings with a striking "25" and "Since 2000" design on the front, while featuring iconic Signal the Frog artwork on the reverse.
If you'd like to own a piece of geocaching history, you can view the geocoin here:
The Adventure Continues
Whether you were there during the early GPS stash hunt days or only discovered your first cache recently, the appeal remains much the same.
Follow the coordinates. Explore somewhere new. Discover something unexpected.
A simple idea from May 2000 continues to send millions of people on adventures every day.
Watch: The Story Behind the First Geocache
Explore more of geocaching's beginnings in this video.