Do Jack Sparrow’s adventures in “Pirates of the Caribbean” even come close to the reality of life on the high seas during the Golden Age of Piracy, from 1689 to the 1720s? How has the popular perception of pirates influenced the historical interpretation of piracy?
Find out during the program A Pirate’s Life for Me? on Saturday, June 27, at 2 p.m. at the N.C. Museum of History. Dr. Charles Ewen, director of Archaeology Laboratories at East Carolina University, will separate myths about pirates from historical evidence. Admission is free. To register, call 919-807-7922 by June 24. A reception follows the program.
How do romanticized stories of piracy in movies compare with the harsh realities of a buccaneer’s violent, blood-thirsty lifestyle? The answers may surprise you. Ewen’s examination of historical documents and the archaeological record suggests that maybe Hollywood hasn’t gotten it all wrong. He will also highlight books, such as Treasure Island and Peter Pan, and their place in popular culture.
This program is presented in conjunction with the exhibit Knights of the Black Flag at the N.C. Museum of History. The exhibit explores the legacy of pirates, from ancient times to the present. Intriguing artifacts, legends and history bring their ruthless adventures to life. Showcasing many pirate-related objects, 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.
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. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street.
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.