Marauders. Plunderers. Bloodthirsty sea-thieves. Whatever their name, pirates have wreaked havoc on the high seas since waterway travel began. These seafaring scoundrels command attention in a major exhibit that opened Friday, March 6, at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. Knights of the Black Flag explores the legacy of pirates, from ancient times to the present, through intriguing artifacts, legends and history that bring their ruthless adventures to life. The interactive exhibit is an exciting experience for all ages. The exhibit will be on view through January 3, 2010.
Showcasing many objects related to pirates, Knights of the Black Flag includes the largest collection of artifacts ever exhibited from the shipwreck believed to be Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge. Legends surround another compelling artifact on loan from the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass.: the alleged skull of Blackbeard.
Knights of the Black Flag traces the history of piracy from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome through today’s pirates in Somalia. Artifacts, some dating to the early centuries A.D., represent tangible links to a violent past. For example, a Roman amphora (storage jar) from southern Jordan may have been seized by ancient pirates on a ship in the Red Sea. Other artifacts speak to the Golden Age of Piracy, from 1689 to the 1720s. These include Queen Anne-style pistols and items discovered in the ruins of Blackbeard’s purported house in Bath. Objects related to modern-day piracy in Somalia include an AK-47, gas masks and knapsacks.
Central to the story of Knights of the Black Flag , of course, are the fearless exploits of sword-wielding, pistol-toting characters such as Stede Bonnet, Anne Bonny, Mary Read and the most famous of all — Blackbeard. Hundreds of artifacts, including cannons, a ship’s bell and gold dust, will be on view from the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the shipwreck discovered at Beaufort Inlet in 1996. Blackbeard and his crew terrorized victims along North Carolina’s coast from this ship that ran aground in 1718. Amid tools, diving equipment, and videos of underwater archaeologists at the shipwreck site, visitors witness the discovery, excavation and conservation of one of the largest pirate ships ever to sail in the Spanish Main.
Knights of the Black Flag features works of art and objects that attest to the pirate mystique in our popular culture. During the 20th century, some of America’s most well-known artists made their careers producing illustrations for children’s books, such as Treasure Island. Works by two such artists, Frank Schoonover and Edward Arthur Wilson, appear in the exhibit. Today, Don Maitz’s fiery depictions of pirates are used to advertise Capt. Morgan® Rum. His paintings will be accompanied by works by other contemporary artists.
Finally, the exhibit allows young visitors to step inside a pirate’s life, to handle pirate weapons, to capture ships and try on pirate clothes. They can watch for pirates from the crow’s nest, defend their ship from a pirate attack, and experience firsthand what it is like to be a pirate.
Plan to see Knights of the Black Flag , and discover how the brutal realities of a pirate’s violent life compare with romanticized images of swashbuckling adventurers prevalent in popular culture. The exhibit is presented as part of “Treasure N.C. Culture,” a 2009 yearlong celebration of the state’s culture, initiated by the Department of Cultural Resources.
Exhibit sponsorship is provided by SunTrust Bank, Curtis Media Group, and Time Warner Cable. To create this exhibit, the N.C. Museum of History has partnered with the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort and the Queen Anne’s Revenge Shipwreck Project, Underwater Archaeology Branch, N.C. Office of State Archaeology. The exhibit will include loaned artifacts from UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State University, the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Va., and other museums.
Ticket and Group Tour Information
Admission is free for ages 18 and under. The fee is $5 for ages 19 and up; $4 for senior citizens, active military personnel and adult groups of 10 or more. Admission is free for adults who accompany school or youth groups of 10 or more. Purchase tickets at the Museum Shop, located in the museum lobby.
To schedule tours for groups of 10 or more, call the Capital Area Visitor Center at 919-807-7950 or toll-free at 866-724-8687. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more.
For more information about the museum, call 919-807-7900 or access ncmuseumofhistory.org. The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton St., across from the State Capitol. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street. The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, www.ncculture.com.
Exhibit Related Programs
The N.C. Museum of History offers outstanding programs that complement the exhibit Knights of the Black Flag , open from March 6, 2009 to January 3, 2010, in Raleigh. All programs are free unless otherwise noted. The bounty of programs includes lectures, children’s programs, and even an artist who makes ships in a bottle. Weekend parking is free.
Programs
Curators’ Tour: Knights of the Black Flag
Saturday, March 14
2-3 p.m.
Ticket to Knights of the Black Flag required.
Jeanne Marie Warzeski, Curator of Colonial and Antebellum History
Stephen R. Claggett, State Archaeologist
Get the inside story on the objects found in the shipwreck believed to be Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, during this special tour led by the exhibit curators.
*Make It, Take It: Pirate Portraits
Saturday, April 18
1-3 p.m. (drop-in program)
Of all the pirates who roamed the Atlantic coast, Blackbeard was the most notorious. Make a portrait of Blackbeard and tour Knights of the Black Flag to learn more about piracy.
Exploring the Queen Anne’s Revenge
Saturday, April 18
3-4 p.m.
To register, call 919-807-7992 by April 16.
Mark U. Wilde-Ramsing, Queen Anne’s Revenge Project Director
Learn what archaeological findings have revealed about the Queen Anne’s Revenge, including the ship’s role in colonial America and the activities of its pirate crew.
North Carolina’s Piratical Legacy
Saturday, May 2
2-3 p.m.
To register, call 919-807-7992 by April 29.
David Moore, Nautical Archaeologist, N.C. Maritime Museum
Discover how Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet, two of the most infamous pirates of the early 1700s, each met an inglorious end off the Carolina coast. A reception follows the program.
Discovering the Whydah Galley
Saturday, May 30
2-3 p.m.
To register, call 919-807-7992 by May 27.
Robert Reedy, Underwater Archaeology Consultant
Launched as a slave ship and later captured by pirates, the Whydah Galley was laden with treasure when it sank in a storm off Cape Cod in 1717. Hear the fascinating story of its discovery. A reception follows the program.
*History Corner: Pirate Lore
Thursday, June 4
10-11 a.m.
Ages 5-9 with adult
To register, call 919-807-7992.
North Carolina’s coastline was once a haven for pirates. Hear tales about some of the most notorious pirates who sailed along the Outer Banks. This program is presented with Cameron Village Regional Library.
*Artist at Work: Jim Goodwin
Friday, June 5: noon-2 p.m.
Saturday, June 6: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, June 7: 1-3 p.m.
Discover the secret of how a ship in a bottle is made. Watch Goodwin craft model boats and insert them into their glass ports, sails and all.
*Family Day: Pirates and Colonial Carolina
Saturday, June 6
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
North Carolina has had its swashbuckling moments, and this fun and educational event will bring them to life. Learn how pirates have been a part of North Carolina’s legends and history. Find out why pirates were welcome here during the 1700s. Admission to Knights of the Black Flag is free for all ages during this special event.
Check out some of the day’s activities.
• Go on a treasure hunt through the exhibit Knights of the Black Flag .
• Meet pirate re-enactors and watch sword-fighting demonstrations.
• Find out about life aboard a sailing ship.
• Learn some of the games pirates played.
• Watch craftspeople create a ship-in-a-bottle or make iron nails at a forge.
• Hear from someone who dives to the underwater site of the shipwreck believed to be Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge.
• Tie a sailing knot or two, and learn about the Sea Scouts.
• Find out about early colonial life in North Carolina.
• Make your own model boat.
• Learn about state historic sites and museums.
*Make It, Take It: Pirate Flags
Saturday, June 13
1-3 p.m. (drop-in program)
Identify the flags of some of the fiercest pirates to sail the seven seas. Then make your own Jolly Roger to take home.
A Pirate’s Life for Me?
Saturday, June 27
2-3 p.m.
To register, call 919-807-7992 by June 24.
Charles Ewen, Professor of Anthropology and Director of Archaeology Laboratories, East Carolina University
How has the popular perception of pirates influenced the historical interpretation of piracy? An examination of historical documents and the archaeological record suggest that Hollywood hasn’t gotten it all wrong. A reception follows the program.
For more information about these events, call 919-807-7900 or access ncmuseumofhistory.org. The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton St., across from the State Capitol. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street.
* programs of interest to children or families
The N.C. Museum of History’s hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. The department’s Web site is www.ncculture.com.