An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/100771
Key COVER FEATURE Exhibit thrills visitors as they explore 18th century pirates REAL PIRATES, a National Geographic exhibition featuring treasures from the only authenticated pirate shipwreck found in U.S. waters, sailed into the Milwaukee Public Museum in December and will be a top destination for families through May 27. The touring exhibition separates fact from fiction about the pirate trade and gives visitors glimpses into the lives of pirates through artifacts, hands���on activities, captivating re���creations, enactors portraying crew members, and a fascinating exploration of underwater archaeology. Visitors learn the captivating true story of the Whydah, one of the most successful pirate ships of the Golden Age of Piracy, from its roots as a slave ship to its takeover and conversion into a pirate ship in the early 1700s. After only two months of conquests and plundering under the direction of Captain ���Black Sam��� Bellamy, one of the boldest pirates of his day, the Whydah sank off the coast of Cape Cod nearly 300 years ago, taking its famous captain and all but two of its 146 crew members with it. The Whydah was located by underwater explorer Barry Clifford in 1984. Clifford is still actively excavating the wreck site and continues to bring treasures to the surface every year. Stories of four members of the Whydah crew, actual people who ended up on the same pirate ship for very different reasons, are highlighted. Included in the group is John King, the youngest known pirate on board the Whydah, who was believed to be younger than 11 at the time of the shipwreck. When the ship he was traveling on with his mother was taken over by Bellamy, young John insisted on taking up with the pirate crew, despite his mother���s objections. 8 A dozen multimedia galleries showcase the reality of the slave trade in West Africa and the economic prosperity in the Caribbean in the early 18th century that gave rise to piracy. Also examined is the Whydah���s journey, the ship���s capture by Bellamy, the violent storm that sank the ship, its discovery by Clifford, and the recovery and conservation of its artifacts. At the core of Real Pirates are artifacts that have been painstakingly recovered from the ocean floor over the past 25 years by Clifford and his team. Highlights include: ��� The Whydah���s bell, inscribed ���Whydah Galley 1716,��� which was used to authenticate the shipwreck site and which various explorers fruitlessly sought after the fateful storm that sank the ship in April 1717. ��� Technologically advanced weaponry of the time ��� cannons, muskets and pistols. ��� Pieces of the Whydah���s rigging and the tools crew members used to maintain it. ��� Artifacts that represent the daily lives of real pirates ��� from a real commode to plates and flatware to jewelry and clothing items to game pieces. ��� Navigational tools like sounding weights and ring dials. ��� A treasure chest filled with authentic coins last touched by real pirates. Clifford is still actively excavating the wreck site and continues to bring gold and silver to the surface as well as everyday items that shed light on this tumultuous period of American and world history. At the end of the exhibition, visitors see first���hand how Clifford discovered the ship and can delve deeper into the extensive recovery and conservation process.