Kids have lengthy been fascinated by pirates, as evidenced by the variety of pirate motion pictures, 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 heart stage.
If you might be as a substitute focused on a enjoyable studying expertise centered on actual pirates, go to the Whydah Pirate Museum, a museum, and attraction for all ages situated in Yarmouth, MA (on Cape Cod). There, you’ll see the one genuine pirate treasure on this planet and see actual pirate artifacts.
Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order/click on by one in every of these hyperlinks might end in a fee paid to us for free of charge 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 if you’ve had sufficient of the Cape Cod solar or on a chilly or wet Cape Cod day. It’s additionally the proper place to go to within the low season on Cape Cod. Just understand that most individuals have the identical concept on wet summer season days, so that you’ll need to purchase tickets upfront.
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 college holidays throughout winter however test their web site upfront. Timed tickets can be found upfront, and are a good suggestion to ensure admission at a selected time (particularly within the busy season).
Ticket costs range primarily based on the season. In the present low season, they’re free for teenagers 4 and below, $13 for teenagers 5-15, $17 for adults 16-64, and $15 for seniors 65+. An non-obligatory audio tour can also be out there for a further price 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, constantly operating five-minute video. The video provides some background in regards to 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 numerous small rooms with varied reveals, together with some interactive reveals. Many of the reveals do have indicators with massive explanations. While I loved leisurely strolling round and studying all the indicators, youthful youngsters might not.
Despite that, you possibly can nonetheless study fairly a bit from studying the headlines and searching 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 full of cash, however there’s additionally an space the place you possibly can truly 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 incredible 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 study how pirates actually lived, primarily based 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 continued 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 situated proper on the primary 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 aren’t out there to borrow or hire. There is not any meals on the museum.
Food and drink, in addition to pictures, aren’t 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 it is best to simply have the ability to get by 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 if you happen to actually need to learn all the varied reveals. You may additionally spend extra time when it’s busy, as a result of you might want to attend for others to learn the reveals earlier than you.
Where to Stay for Your Cape Cod Vacation
Yarmouth is situated within the mid-Cape part of Cape Cod and is fairly centrally situated. If you aren’t staying in Yarmouth, you might undoubtedly go to for a day journey. There are loads of trip properties within the space, and a few well-liked and well-rated resorts (understand that some resorts are open seasonally).
Other well-liked 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 situated in entrance of the Whydah and is open year-round. Our different favorites, Skipper Chowder House and Tugboats, are open seasonally.
To study extra in regards to the Whydah Pirate Museum and to buy timed tickets, go to their web site.
Looking for extra Cape Cod journey suggestions? Click to see our information with city suggestions, issues to do, eating places, and extra in Cape Cod.
