WEST YARMOUTH – A West Yarmouth museum which features the only authenticated pirate treasure ever discovered will hold a special celebration next week.
The Whydah Pirate Museum will mark the 300th anniversary of the sinking of the Whydah pirate ship.
The vessel sank off the coast of Wellfleet at midnight on April 26, 1717.
The museum will remember the anniversary with book signings and dressed pirates on site on Wednesday April 26 and Saturday April 29.
“It’s obviously a very important day for us,” said Barry Clifford, the explorer who discovered the wreck and the museum’s founder. “It commemorates the sinking of the Whydah, not that it’s a celebration, but it’s a time to think back on who these people really were.”
The museum features artifacts removed from the wreck site, tells stories of the crew and highlights what life was like on the ship.
The Whydah was originally a slave ship and was manned by a crew of outlaws, including former slaves and Native Americans.
The museum opened for the season last Friday.