The exhibit is not exactly new, but it is new and improved. The Blackbeard exhibit at the NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort received new artifacts and a new conservation lab. The artifacts come from the ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, which was Blackbeard’s flagship. As part of the new exhibit, the conservation lab will be visible to the public, who will be able to observe museum staff and conservators at work. As the items are salvaged, they have to go through an ‘orientation process’ so as to properly protect the artifacts, as well as a cleaning and preserving process. And then they are ready to go on display!
In addition to the latest artifacts and lab, visitors will also find exhibits about piracy from both the Golden Age of Piracy and data about what’s happening today with modern piracy. Yes, piracy still exists in some parts of the world! The exhibits include information about Blackbeard, who was a legendary sea robber with a fondness for the Carolinas. In fact, his final battle took place at Ocracoke Inlet in 1718 when his sloop, Adventure, ran aground and he was defeated by the Royal Navy. The shipwreck, Queen Anne’s Revenge, was discovered near Beaufort in 1996 and excavations have been ongoing since that time. While there is no way to know for absolute certain if this is indeed Blackbeard’s ship, it is believed to be so by many experts based on the ship’s materials, contents, etc.
To learn more about Blackbeard and other pirates with ties to the Carolinas, you can check out PirateLand and ready all about them in my popular book, Pirates of the Carolinas.
There are three maritime museums in North Carolina. The museum with this exhibit is in Beaufort, NC.
For hours of operation and more information about this exhibit, http://www.ncmaritimemuseum.org/
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