A pirate’s life for me

The Field Museum’s hit “Real Pirates” exhibit offers a rare glimpse into the real life of 18th century piracy

By Trent Modglin

Honestly, who doesn’t love a good pirate story? From Blackbeard to Captain Hook, Disney rides and Johnny Depp’s eyeliner, the life of a pirate has always had a way of capturing the imagination of children and adults alike.

The Field Museum brings the classical age of piracy to life with its popular exhibit “Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship,” running through Oct. 25.

Jump aboard and set sail with legendary pirate Sam Bellamy to learn the true story of the Whydah, from her transformation from slave ship to pirate ship to her final resting place on the ocean floor.

In 1984, Barry Clifford created headlines that spanned the globe with the discovery of the remains of the Whydah, which was wrecked off the coast of Cape Cod during a wicked storm in 1717. Never before had a fully authenticated pirate ship been found off American waters. More than 100,000 artifacts have been located, as the recovery process continues to this day.

Visitors to the 8,400-square-foot interactive exhibition, organized by National Geographic and Arts and Exhibitions International, are treated to an unprecedented glimpse into the life of the early 18th century Caribbean. “Real Pirates” showcases more than 200 artifacts, such as chests of gold coins, jewelry, cannons, pistols and swords, as well as a full-sized replica of the ship’s stern and compelling true stories of the diverse crew that met its demise nearly 300 years ago.

A host of engaging and informative multimedia galleries detail the political, economic and social aspects of this intriguing and often unruly portion of history, including the West Africa slave trade, what life was like aboard the Whydah and how the most notorious characters of the day earned their reputations.

“This was a unique period in our history,” says Jeffrey Bolster, professor of early American and Caribbean history at the University of New Hampshire, who also served as a member of an advisory panel that aided exhibit organizers. “Through the cache of artifacts, we see a world generally undisclosed, one in which the Caribbean was the economic center and values were very different, an era before civil rights, before individual liberties, and before democracy was institutionalized. Without the slave trade and the wealth of the region, piracy would not have existed. This is a story of the making of America — a true story more powerful than fiction.”

Tickets to Real Pirates include museum admission and are priced at $23 for adults, $20 for seniors and students with ID and $13 for children 3-11. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended. The Field Museum, located at 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week. For more information or to purchase tickets, call –866-FIELD-03 or visit –www.fieldmuseum.org.

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