Located in Provincetown the Whydah museum is a great way to add in some sea-faring adventure to a day trip from Mid Cape accommodations. Commanded by the famed pirate Sam Bellamy, the Whydah wrecked off Wellfleet in 1717, taking with her the treasures of over fifty plundered ships. The Whydah Museum lets visitors relive this historic times when swashbuckling and treasure were ripe for more than just the imagination.
Bellamy’s loss was history’s gain, however, as the contents of his ship now allow those who step into the museum a unique look into the lives of the pirates, and an unprecedented cross-cultural sampling of treasures from the world of the 18th century.
Discovered by underwater explorer Barry Clifford, this archaeological shipwreck recovery project has been named a National Geographic Society “Special Event”, and the Provincetown Museum is the headquarters for our ongoing underwater archaeological missions.
Here you can see the world’s only pirate treasure–together with such fascinating artifacts as cannon, firearms, and more–plus learn the amazing history of this misfortune and the men who sailed the ship.
The museum also features lots of hands in exhibitons that will have any pirate fan hitting the decks. Little ones and parents alike can get involved and learn how the Wydah team recovers priceless treasures from the sea-bed, as you also help decipher the untold secrets of the pirates! If archaeology is an interest, guests can also interpret x-rays of mysterious heavily-encrusted objects and discover the painstaking and fascinating scientific work that preserves found items from the past.
