“Real Pirates” at Milwaukee Public Museum

The bell from the Whydah pirate ship at the Milwaukee Public Museum. All photos by Howard Leu.

Pirates have invaded Milwaukee Public Museum as part of the new exhibit, Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah, running now through the end of May, 2013.

The Whydah, named after the infamous West African port Ouidah, was found by underwater archaeologist Barry Clifford in 1984. At nearly 300 years old, the Whydah was the first pirate ship ever discovered in American waters, right off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass.

The Whydah originally set sail as a slave ship in 1716, but her maiden voyage was cut short by Pirate Captain Sam Bellamy. Bellamy pursued the Whydah for three days before successfully capturing and converting it into a pirate ship. He invited the former captives on board the Whydah to become members of his crew. Nicknamed “Prince of the Pirates,” Captain Bellamy was an experienced sailor known for his kind nature and general aversion to murdering victims of captured ships. At least one-third of Bellamy’s crew were African Americans who joined the in hopes of living life free of slavery.

Contrary to popular belief, most pirates were not simple thieves or malicious men. Bellamy himself, as legend has it, was a hopeless romantic whose life of piracy sprouted from a deep love for a woman named Maria Hallett. As legend goes, Maria’s parents forbid her from marrying Bellamy because he came from a poor family. Determined to prove himself, Bellamy set forth as a pirate, the quickest way he knew to make big money.

In less than a year, Bellamy and crew managed to capture more than 50 ships and collect countless valuables. But after only a year’s run, the Whydah hit a sandbar during a violent storm and sunk to its sandy grave only 500 feet from shore.

The storm killed all but two of the crew members. Bellamy’s body was never found.

The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the life and history of the Whydah. Visitors first entering the exhibit will be introduced to the ship and learn the historical context of the time period in which it sailed. The extensive exhibit, which gives visitors the chance to board the Whydah, ends with the ship’s discovery and present findings.

Guests are encouraged to interact with the live actors and actresses who will be present at every exhibit showing. These characters are well informed about Sam Bellamy and the story of the Whydah, and a discussion with them will enlighten you on all the latest town gossip about Maria, Sam, and the Whydah.

Barry Clifford, who discovered the ship, is an internationally known underwater explorer and has been featured in several documentaries that aired on National Geographic, PBS, NBC and the Discovery Channel, among others.

Nearly 30 years after the discovery, Clifford said work on the Whydah site is far from over. Unlike other shipwrecks, such as the Titanic, the Whydah only sank a mere 30 feet underwater. The shallow wreck rested on heavy, shifting sand, which deeply buried much of the ship’s treasure. Other artifacts were embedded in dense concretions of rock, sand and clay that form around metal objects.

The exhibit has been traveling throughout the United States since 2007. The Whydah artifacts have a permanent home at the Whydah Pirate Museum in Massachusetts.

Clifford says the story of the Whydah is still unfolding and will surely not be finished in his lifetime.

The slideshow below takes you on a journey through the Milwaukee Public Museum exhibition with audio interviews along with photos of the exhibit. Take a look.

Soundslides slideshow by Callie Koller. Photos by Howard Leu. 

Milwaukee Public Museum’s Real Pirates exhibit is now open. Real Pirates runs from Dec. 14 to May 27, 2013. Click here for information on events and promotions for the exhibit, including family specials and “Dress Like a Pirate” discounts. For all other ticket information, click here.