Benjamin Franklin Gates comes from a family of treasure hunters who have long been obsessed with finding a war chest hidden by the Founding Fathers after the Revolutionary War. Ben grows up with stories of this treasure, which is supposed to contain untold riches and artifacts, but the pursuit has left his family line with nothing but ridicule and disappointment. Undeterred, Ben becomes a historian and cryptologist, dedicating his life to deciphering the clues left behind by the country's forefathers, who went to great lengths to protect and hide the treasure from being found. His journey begins with a clue on the "Charlotte," a ship lost in the Arctic, which propels him into a dangerous adventure that tests his resolve and determination.

The quest quickly turns into a high-stakes race when Ben discovers that Ian Howe, a wealthy and ruthless treasure hunter, is also after the treasure, willing to do whatever it takes to claim it. To outmaneuver Howe and his team, Ben assembles a small, skilled group that includes his best friend, a computer expert, and a reluctant archivist from the National Archives who is initially skeptical of the treasure's existence. As they solve complex riddles and navigate historical landmarks, they must stay one step ahead of Howe, while also dodging the FBI, which sees their treasure hunt as a criminal endeavor. The search leads them to a discovery that could change history, but reaching it requires breaking laws and risking their lives for a piece of the past that may hold the key to one of the greatest treasures ever known.