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WEST YARMOUTH – The Cape’s newest Science Museum opens to the public Saturday and features the only authenticated pirate treasure ever discovered.
The Whydah Pirate Museum, on Route 28 in West Yarmouth in the former ZooQuarium building, tells the story of the Whydah which sank off the coast of Wellfleet in 1717 after robbing 54 other ships.
The museum features artifacts removed from the wreck site, tells stories of the crew and highlights what life was like on the ship.
“The crew and everybody who has worked on the project – we want to be able to preserve the ship for Cape Cod and I think this is the heart of the Cape,” said Barry Clifford, the explorer who discovered the wreck and the museum’s founder. “We have so much more material to bring back here. I think it’s the perfect location.”
Artifacts on display at the museum include iron bars, branding needles, shackles, canons and guns.
The museum also includes a treasure room which includes the valuable gold and silver that has been recovered including an Akan jewelry collection and a royal stike coin.
Interactive displays are also available for children as they can hoist the Jolly Roger flag and view exhibits which depict what life was like for the crew of the former slave ship.
Clifford said the treasure to him is the stories of the crew and the research that has been done. Among the artifacts are a leg bone and small shoe of a young boy named John King. His remains were found trapped under a canon and actual documents led to his identification as a ship he was on was robbed by the Whydah crew.
Visitors will also be able to watch as more artifacts are found for the first time and removed from concretions excavated from the site.
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Wendy Northcross was among a small group who were able to preview the exhibit after a ribbon cutting on Wednesday.
“There’s great artwork to supplement the real artifacts,” Northcorss said. “You get up close and personal to the only truly documented pirate ship and pirate treasure in the world and you get a story.”
Northross said the museum is a great addition to Cape Cod.
“It’s a hugely important asset that we have now to attract more visitors, entertain people that are already here and really tell a real story of real pirate treasure,” she said.
Clifford said he plans on added a 2nd floor to the museum.
“We can add an extra 10,000 square feet which will bring us right around 16,000 or 17,000 square feet,” he said. “Phase two would be to build an 18th century pirate village in the back – We have 6 and ½ acres here.”
The museum will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Admission is $18.50 for adults, $16 for seniors, $14.50 for children and free for kids 3 year of age and under.
Tickets may be purchased online at discoverpirates.com, by phone at 508-534-9571 or in person at the museum box office.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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