Science Museum of Minnesota
	The newest special exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota tells a true pirate tale.

Pirates invade St. Paul

Minnesota,
© 2012 Group Tour Media
January 18, 2012

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The golden age of piracy will come to life at the Science Museum of Minnesota when the exhibition "Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship" opens Feb. 18.

The exhibition features real treasures from the only known authenticated pirate shipwreck in the U.S.

“Real Pirates” separates fact from fiction about the pirate trade and gives glimpses into the lives of pirates through more than 200 artifacts, hands-on activities, captivating re-creations, actors portraying crew members and an exploration of underwater archaeology. Groups will gain great insight into this fascinating period of history in this touring exhibition organized by the National Geographic Society, Arts & Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions.

The exhibition tells the true story of the Whydah, one of the most successful pirate ships, from its roots as a slave ship to its takeover and conversion into a pirate ship. After only two months of conquests and plundering under the direction of Captain “Black Sam” Bellamy, one of the boldest pirates of his day, the Whydah sank off the coast of Cape Cod nearly 300 years ago, taking its famous captain and all but two of its 146 crew members with it.

Artifacts from the shipwreck have been painstakingly recovered from the ocean floor over the past 25 years by underwater explorer Barry Clifford and his team.

One of the most striking artifacts in the exhibition is the ship’s bell, inscribed “Whydah Galley 1716,” used to authenticate the shipwreck site as that of the Whydah, which various explorers fruitlessly sought since the fateful storm that sank the vessel in April 1717.

Other artifacts include treasure chests filled with coins from all over the world, including authentic coins that visitors can touch, pirate dress items, daily objects used aboard the ship, and technically advanced weaponry of the time — cannons, pistols and swords.

"This is not pirate-movie fantasy. This is the true and fascinating story of real pirates and the only exhibition of its kind," said Mike Day, senior vice president at the Science Museum of Minnesota. "'Real Pirates' features wonderful treasures — like swords and grenades and real pirate booty — but it also tells the stories of the real people the artifacts represent. Visitors will tie knots, hoist flags and see cannons, but the best part is that they'll discover what life was like during this period in the 18th century."

More information, including details about group tours, is available at www.smm.org and www.piratesexhibit.com.

The exhibition closed Sunday at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix.

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