Take A Road Trip To A Pirate Museum or Living History Reenactment!
Plan a summer road trip to a museum that offers pirate history, artifacts, and memorabilia. Many provide educational materials for teachers and students, as well as guided tours. A few provide pirate living history days and reenactments along with tall ship events and Chantey sing-alongs. Check out these destinations for your next carschooling road trip:
- Chantey Sing at Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco, California – A public sing-along of sea chanteys and sailor songs aboard a historic ship at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. 8pm to Midnight on the first Saturday of every month. Wear warm clothing and bring a mug for hot cider. Free Admission. Reservations required, call 415-561- 7171.
- Festival Of Sail, San Francisco, California July 23-27 2008, the annual Festival of Sail transforms San Francisco’s wharf and waterfront into a nautical extravaganza. Reenactments, chantey sing-alongs, pirates and fun for the whole family.
- Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Hatteras, North Carolina – The waters off North Carolina’s outer banks entomb thousands of vessels and countless mariners – the victims of piracy, war, and weather. This museum features artifacts from shipwrecks and some of America’s most important maritime history.
- Jean Lafitte Pirate Museum, Jean Lafitte, Louisiana – This museum offers the biography of pirate Jean Lafitte through animated marionettes and dioramas.
- Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, Key West, Florida – Exhibits feature treasure recovered from shipwrecks.
- Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, Connecticut – Climb aboard historic tall ships, stroll through a re- created 19th-century coastal village, or watch a working preservation shipyard in action.
- New England Pirate Museum, Salem, Massachusetts – Take a 20-30 minute walking tour, where you’ll meet buccaneers from the days of yore, and behold artifacts and treasures. Visit a recreated dockside village, board a pirate ship and explore a bat cave filled with hidden booty.
- North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, North Carolina – Artifacts from maritime history, including shipwrecks. Special section on Blackbeard the Pirate. Holds all kinds of nautical educational events.
- Pirates In Paradise Festival, Key West, Florida – Pack up yer cutlass, don yer garb, grab yer mate and join us for a weekend of mischief and merrymaking that features a host of swashbuckling events for buccaneers and wenches of all ages!
- Pirates of Nassau Museum, Nassau, Bahamas – Board a replica of the pirate ship “Revenge” and enter the world of cutlass wielding, bloodthirsty pirates.
- Pirate Soul Museum, Key West, Florida – Visit the museum to see the largest and most authentic collection of pirate artifacts under one roof. The educators’ page offers a free, downloadable guide to pirate history that includes discussion questions and activities.
- Real Pirates: The Story of the Pirate Ship Whydah Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA – National Geographic and Franklin Institute Exhibit, May 31-November 2, 2008. Great multi-media promo for this pirate extravaganza exhibit is available at the website.
- San Diego Maritime Museum, San Diego, California – Explore historic ships, enjoy all kinds of maritime – themed events including Chantey Sings, and treat your entire family to a sleep-over aboard a historic sailing vessel.
For a complete listing of all of the Maritime Museums throughout the U.S. – that may or may not have pirate-related artifacts and events visit: Smith’s Master Index to Maritime Museum Websites of the U.S.
Diane Flynn Keith, Author of Carschooling
© 2008 Diane Flynn Keith, All Rights Reserved.