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The buccaneers chronicled in this book are some of the most engaging and colorful sea robbers in the history of piracy. Some were born in the Carolinas, some plundered its waters en route to other pirate havens, and some made their homes in numerous towns of North and South Carolina. They came from various backgrounds. Accordingly, these sea robbers all had different philosophies and idiosyncrasies. For instance, Blackbeard would do anything to protect and foster his reputation as the fiercest pirate of all. This behavior included putting lit fuses under his hat! William Lewis supposedly made a deal with the Devil and frequently conversed with him to become a pirate captain. Mary Read wanted so desperately to be a pirate that she taped her breasts and disguised herself as a man to join a crew.
Looking for Pirates? Look no further, you brave soul. They’re all over the Carolinas. Here are a few suggestions: There’s a new Blackbeard exhibit at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, NC. It has artifacts from the famous pirate’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge. The shipwreck was found in 1996 and more than 300 items have been recovered. While the exhibit is permanent, the artifacts will change periodically. www.ncmaritimemuseum.org Check out the pirate museum inside Teach’s Hole on Ocracoke Island, NC. The gift shop, which opened in 1992, claims to have more than 1,000 pirate-theme items for sale, as well as a small pirate museum. www.teachshole.com The Pirate Voyage is an extravagant dinner show that opened in June 2011 at Myrtle Beach, SC that includes a huge pirate battle. www.piratesvoyage.com Pirate Invasion is a big, annual festival that takes place in Beaufort, NC every August. Participants will enjoy a pirate attack, treasure hunt, face painting, music, special tours, and much more. www.beaufortpirateinvasion.com Charleston was a big hangout for pirates during the era of Blackbeard. Take a guided tour to learn more about the Golden Age of Piracy and to see where some of them were hanged! The guide wears a pirate costume complete with a colorful macaw perched on his shoulder. www.charlestonpiratetour.com
Pirate Museums outside of the Carolinas:
St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum (formerly Pirate Soul Museum in Key West)
12 S Castillo Drive
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Expedition Whydah Sea-Lab & Learning Center
New England Pirate Museum 274 Derby Street , Salem, MA 01970 978-7411-2800
Pirates of Nassau Museum Downtown Nassau, Bahamas piratesofnassau@batelnet.bs
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