New National Geographic Exhibit Brings Real Pirates, Treasure to Town

Created from the wreckage of the Whydah, the first fully-authenticated pirate ship discovered in American waters, a new exhibit opens Friday at the National Geographic Museum: “Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship.”

Built as a slave ship in London in 1715, the Whydah’s purpose was to transport human captives from the west coast of Africa to the Caribbean, but after only one voyage, it was captured by the pirate Sam Bellamy and became a pirate ship.  Just two months later, one of the worst nor’easters ever recorded sank it — and its plunder from more than 50 captured ships — and it wasn’t found until some 270 years later by underwater explorer Barry Clifford.

The wreckage site of the Whydah remains active, continuing to offer newly uncovered treasures and artifacts like weapons (swords, cannons, muskets and pistols), daily necessities (tools, kitchen utensils, buttons, coins) and personal belongings from the captain’s quarters, all on view at NatGeo. The ship’s anchor will be unveiled for this exhibit — the first time it has been seen publicly — and visitors can climb aboard a replica of the ship to experience what it was like in the captain’s quarters and below deck.

Ahoy, Mates!

*Unless otherwise noted, photo credits to Lee Rannals