Kids have lengthy been fascinated by pirates, as evidenced by the variety of pirate films, reveals, rides, and merchandise that exist. But most of those are centered on the mythology of pirates – with issues like buried treasure, hook arms, and strolling the plank taking middle stage.
If you might be as a substitute concerned about a enjoyable studying expertise centered on actual pirates, go to the Whydah Pirate Museum, a museum, and attraction for all ages positioned in Yarmouth, MA (on Cape Cod). There, you’ll see the one genuine pirate treasure on the planet and see actual pirate artifacts.
Disclosure: This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order/click on by way of certainly one of these hyperlinks might end in a fee paid to us for gratis to you. All opinions are my very own. We paid for our personal admission to the Whydah Pirate Museum.
Guide to the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth, MA
What is the Whydah Pirate Museum?
The Whydah Pirate Museum, which is open year-round, opened in 2016 and is an interactive/science museum and exhibit showcasing the stays of the shipwrecked pirate ship, the Whydah. This ship began as a slave ship and was taken over by pirate captain Sam Bellamy. It was shipwrecked in 1717 off the coast of Wellfleet MA throughout a horrible Noreaster storm.
In the Nineteen Eighties, underwater archaeologist explorer Barry Clifford discovered the stays of the ship off the coast of Cape Cod. Recovery of the ship’s stays is ongoing, though there are such a lot of artifacts which have already been discovered and restored. These are on show within the Whydah Pirate Museum for the general public to see.
The Whydah is a good choice to discover while you’ve had sufficient of the Cape Cod solar or on a chilly or wet Cape Cod day. It’s additionally the right place to go to within the low season on Cape Cod. Just remember the fact that most individuals have the identical thought on wet summer time days, so that you’ll wish to purchase tickets prematurely.
Entrance to the Whydah Pirate Museum
The museum is open year-round, though hours and days within the low season are restricted. Typically, they’re open on weekends and faculty holidays throughout winter however examine their web site prematurely. Timed tickets can be found prematurely, and are a good suggestion to ensure admission at a particular time (particularly within the busy season).
Ticket costs fluctuate based mostly on the season. In the present low season, they’re free for teenagers 4 and underneath, $13 for teenagers 5-15, $17 for adults 16-64, and $15 for seniors 65+. An non-obligatory audio tour can be obtainable for an extra charge and could be bought on the entrance of the museum.
What You’ll See on the Whydah Pirate Museum
Once you arrive on the pirate museum, you’ll wait within the foyer for an introductory, repeatedly working five-minute video. The video offers some background concerning the Whydah in addition to details about the restoration of the stays. In that room, you’ll additionally see the ship’s bell.
After the video, you might be free to stroll across the museum at your individual tempo. There are a lot of small rooms with varied reveals, together with some interactive reveals. Many of the reveals do have indicators with giant explanations. While I loved leisurely strolling round and studying all the indicators, youthful children might not.
Despite that, you possibly can nonetheless be taught fairly a bit from studying the headlines and looking out on the artifacts. Alternatively, you might buy the audio tour (we didn’t, nevertheless).
The spotlight of the Whydah Pirate Museum is the truth that it affords the world’s solely authenticated pirate treasure. Not solely are you able to see a pirate ship treasure chest stuffed with cash, however there’s additionally an space the place you possibly can really contact a number of of the silver cash.
Other artifacts on show embrace cannons, jewellery, grenades, bones (together with a leg bone!), shells, and extra. The museum does an important job of explaining the story of the Whydah, together with the origins of the ship, the way it was overtaken, and the way it was shipwrecked throughout that fateful New England storm.
But, you’ll additionally find out about how pirates actually lived, based mostly upon what was recognized about their lives from the shipwreck. Myths like buried treasure and “walking the plank” are dispelled.
At the top of the museum is a room devoted to the continuing restoration of the Whydah and its artifacts. These reveals present how gadgets are recovered and restored.
What to Expect From Your Visit
The museum is positioned proper on the principle highway however is a bit offset. So, when driving, search for the big signal by the lengthy driveway. Free parking is accessible in entrance of the museum.
There’s a small present store on the entrance, and restrooms can be found. The museum is wheelchair and stroller accessible, though these things are usually not obtainable to borrow or lease. There is not any meals on the museum.
Food and drink, in addition to pictures, are usually not permitted within the Whydah Pirate Museum. However, there’s a small space by the foyer the place you’ll be able to take pictures. It’s not an enormous museum, so you need to simply be capable to get by way of it without having one thing to drink or eat.
Overall, our go to took about 45 minutes. Once you enter the museum, you possibly can take your time strolling round. I’d plan on spending about 60 minutes there – extra in the event you actually wish to learn all the varied reveals. You can also spend extra time when it’s busy, as a result of chances are you’ll want to attend for others to learn the reveals earlier than you.
Where to Stay for Your Cape Cod Vacation
Yarmouth is positioned within the mid-Cape part of Cape Cod and is fairly centrally positioned. If you aren’t staying in Yarmouth, you might undoubtedly go to for a day journey. There are loads of trip houses within the space, and a few fashionable and well-rated resorts (remember the fact that some resorts are open seasonally).
Other fashionable resorts on Cape Cod embrace Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster and the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in Falmouth.
Where To Eat Before or After Your Visit
While there isn’t a snack bar or restaurant within the museum, there are many close by eating places in Yarmouth. The closest is Captain Parkers, which is positioned in entrance of the Whydah and is open year-round. Our different favorites, Skipper Chowder House and Tugboats, are open seasonally.
To be taught extra concerning the Whydah Pirate Museum and to buy timed tickets, go to their web site.
Looking for extra Cape Cod journey ideas? Click to see our information with city suggestions, issues to do, eating places, and extra in Cape Cod.
