Logo by Alan Parente
Discover the perils and privileges of 18th-century pirate life as you explore artifacts recovered from the Whydah—the first authenticated pirate ship found in U.S. waters.
One of the most technologically advanced vessels of her day, the Whydah was built and launched as a slave ship and captured on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic by legendary pirate Sam Bellamy and his crew. After a few alterations and a quick hoist of the Jolly Roger, the Whydah became the flagship of Bellamy’s flotilla, leading raids throughout Caribbean waters and up the Atlantic coastline.
Then on April 26, 1717, the perfect storm sank the Whydah with most of her crew aboard—as well as the bounty from more than 50 captured ships. Almost 300 years later, underwater explorer Barry Clifford and his team managed to locate the wreck of the Whydah and painstakingly unearthed her treasures from the ocean floor.
In “Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship,” dive into the wreck of the Whydah to discover the true stories of Captain Bellamy and his crew through fascinating artifacts in the world’s first exhibition of authentic pirate treasure!
Touch real pirate treasure and marvel at gold and silver coins from all over the world, cannons, and discover the advanced technology that revealed these treasures to the modern world.
Audio Tours available $5
Download Classroom Guides:
Educator Guide
1145 17th Street NW
Washington, D.C., US
20036
Telephone: +1 202 857 7588
Lat/Lon: 38.904592000000001, -77.038503000000006
Host a pirate themed party for your own little buccaneer! Complete with an exhibit tour of Real Pirates.
Immerse yourself in the Golden Age of Piracy with Barry Clifford, who discovered the wreck of the pirate vessel Whydah.
Ahoy, me mateys! Tired of the same old pirate stories? National Geographic Museum brings Real Pirates to life with historical re-enactors, telescope making, and traditional pirate tunes. Create your own jolly roger, see a live pirate show and falconry demonstration, learn how to build a boat and dive into the world of underwater archaeology!
Learn more about the benefits of booking a group visit to National Geographic in Washington, D.C.
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