Real Pirates at Nauticus

INTRODUCTION THEATER
An informative video introduces the themes of the exhibit: pirates and their ships, the Caribbean as an economic center, slave trade, and life on-board ships and on plantations.

STORY OF THE WHYDAH GALLERY
The Whydah is shown loading captives and then traveling the Middle Passage from Africa to the Caribbean. A video describes the slave trade.

Captain Blackbeard's Tavern

Meet the pirates, hear their music, and read their Articles of conduct.

Arts and Exhibits International

CARIBBEAN GALLERY
A replica of a sugar warehouse filled with trade goods is on display along with shipping information and a map illustrating the trade routes centered in the Caribbean.

PIRATE LIFE GALLERY
We enter a tavern and meet the pirates, hear their music, and read their Ship's Articles and their code of conduct.

CAPTURE OF THE WHYDAH GALLERY
Weaponry fills the gallery with cannon, swords, pistols and grenades. Four banners show the featured pirates, and two murals depict pirate attacks.

ON BOARD THE WHYDAH GALLERY
Climb onboard this large scale replica of the Whydah's hull. She is at dock in the Caribbean on a moonlit night. In this glimpse of pirate life, we see a surgeon sawing off a leg; a sailor asleep in his hammock; the quartermaster recording the booty; and the carpenter dismantling the slave quarters.

The Whydah's Treasure

Thousands of gold and silver coins have been recovered from the Whydah's shipwreck.

Kenneth Garrett National Geographic

TREASURE GALLERY
A large, dramatic case holds a chest overflowing with coins, just some of the loot recovered from the Whydah. Around the gallery, more cases display coins and an exhibit allows you to touch real pieces of eight.

LOSS OF THE WHYDAH GALLERY
Large immersive videos tell the story of the fateful storm that sunk the Whydah off of Cape Cod.

PIRATES FATE GALLERY
When captured, pirates faced trial and death by hanging. A full-size replica of a gibbet where their bodies were left to rot as a warning to others, hangs menacingly in the room.

Barry Clifford

Barry Clifford is one of the world's best-known underwater archaeological explorers and has been involved in the survey and/or recovery of over fifty wrecks around Cape Cod and the Islands.

DISCOVERY & RECOVERY GALLERY
We learn how Barry Clifford spearheaded the discovery of the Whydah, and how his team is ensuring that artifacts are conserved. Concretions bearing artifacts from the Whydah are displayed in aquariums.