Children have lengthy been fascinated by pirates, as evidenced by the variety of pirate films, reveals, rides, and merchandise that exist. However most of those are centered on the mythology of pirates – with issues like buried treasure, hook arms, and strolling the plank taking heart stage.
In case you are as an alternative curious about a enjoyable studying expertise centered on actual pirates, go to the Whydah Pirate Museum, a museum, and attraction for all ages situated in Yarmouth, MA (on Cape Cod). There, you’ll see the one genuine pirate treasure on the earth and see actual pirate artifacts.
Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order/click on by one among these hyperlinks could end in a fee paid to us for gratis to you. All opinions are my very own. We paid for our personal admission to the Whydah Pirate Museum.
Information to the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth, MA
What’s the Whydah Pirate Museum?
The Whydah Pirate Museum, which is open year-round, opened in 2016 and is an interactive/science museum and exhibit showcasing the stays of the shipwrecked pirate ship, the Whydah. This ship began as a slave ship and was taken over by pirate captain Sam Bellamy. It was shipwrecked in 1717 off the coast of Wellfleet MA throughout a horrible Noreaster storm.
Within the Eighties, underwater archaeologist explorer Barry Clifford discovered the stays of the ship off the coast of Cape Cod. Restoration of the ship’s stays is ongoing, though there are such a lot of artifacts which have already been discovered and restored. These are on show within the Whydah Pirate Museum for the general public to see.
The Whydah is a good choice to discover while you’ve had sufficient of the Cape Cod solar or on a chilly or wet Cape Cod day. It’s additionally the proper place to go to within the low season on Cape Cod. Simply remember that most individuals have the identical thought on wet summer time days, so that you’ll need to purchase tickets prematurely.
Entrance to the Whydah Pirate Museum
The museum is open year-round, though hours and days within the low season are restricted. Usually, they’re open on weekends and college holidays throughout winter however verify their web site prematurely. Timed tickets can be found prematurely, and are a good suggestion to ensure admission at a particular time (particularly within the busy season).
Ticket costs range based mostly on the season. Within the present low season, they’re free for youths 4 and beneath, $13 for youths 5-15, $17 for adults 16-64, and $15 for seniors 65+. An optionally available audio tour can also be obtainable for an extra price and could be bought on the entrance of the museum.
What You’ll See on the Whydah Pirate Museum
When you arrive on the pirate museum, you’ll wait within the foyer for an introductory, constantly working five-minute video. The video provides some background concerning the Whydah in addition to details about the restoration of the stays. In that room, you’ll additionally see the ship’s bell.
After the video, you’re free to stroll across the museum at your personal tempo. There are many small rooms with numerous displays, together with some interactive displays. Most of the displays do have indicators with massive explanations. Whereas I loved leisurely strolling round and studying the entire indicators, youthful youngsters could not.
Regardless of that, you may nonetheless be taught fairly a bit from studying the headlines and searching on the artifacts. Alternatively, you would buy the audio tour (we didn’t, nevertheless).
The spotlight of the Whydah Pirate Museum is the truth that it affords the world’s solely authenticated pirate treasure. Not solely are you able to see a pirate ship treasure chest full of cash, however there’s additionally an space the place you may truly contact a number of of the silver cash.
Different artifacts on show embrace cannons, jewellery, grenades, bones (together with a leg bone!), shells, and extra. The museum does an incredible job of explaining the story of the Whydah, together with the origins of the ship, the way it was overtaken, and the way it was shipwrecked throughout that fateful New England storm.
However, you’ll additionally find out about how pirates actually lived, based mostly upon what was recognized about their lives from the shipwreck. Myths like buried treasure and “strolling the plank” are dispelled.
On the finish of the museum is a room devoted to the continued restoration of the Whydah and its artifacts. These displays present how objects are recovered and restored.
What to Anticipate From Your Go to
The museum is situated proper on the principle highway however is a bit offset. So, when driving, search for the massive signal by the lengthy driveway. Free parking is out there in entrance of the museum.
There’s a small reward store on the entrance, and restrooms can be found. The museum is wheelchair and stroller accessible, though these things should not obtainable to borrow or hire. There isn’t a meals on the museum.
Foods and drinks, in addition to pictures, should not permitted within the Whydah Pirate Museum. Nevertheless, there’s a small space by the foyer the place you’ll be able to take photographs. It’s not an enormous museum, so it is best to simply be capable of get by it while not having one thing to drink or eat.
Total, our go to took about 45 minutes. When you enter the museum, you may take your time strolling round. I’d plan on spending about 60 minutes there – extra should you actually need to learn the entire numerous displays. You might also spend extra time when it’s busy, as a result of chances are you’ll want to attend for others to learn the displays earlier than you.
The place to Keep for Your Cape Cod Trip
Yarmouth is situated within the mid-Cape part of Cape Cod and is fairly centrally situated. In the event you aren’t staying in Yarmouth, you would undoubtedly go to for a day journey. There are many trip houses within the space, and a few standard and well-rated accommodations (remember that some accommodations are open seasonally).
Different standard accommodations on Cape Cod embrace Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster and the Sea Crest Seashore Resort in Falmouth.
The place To Eat Earlier than or After Your Go to
Whereas there isn’t a snack bar or restaurant within the museum, there are many close by eating places in Yarmouth. The closest is Captain Parkers, which is situated in entrance of the Whydah and is open year-round. Our different favorites, Skipper Chowder Home and Tugboats, are open seasonally.
To be taught extra concerning the Whydah Pirate Museum and to buy timed tickets, go to their web site.
On the lookout for extra Cape Cod journey ideas? Click on to see our information with city suggestions, issues to do, eating places, and extra in Cape Cod.
