Real Pirates Museum in Salem marks sinking of famous pirate ship with events, live music
Saturday marks the 308th anniversary of the sinking of the pirate ship, Whydah, after one of the worst storms in history hit the boat off the coast of Cape Cod.
The Whydah pirate
The ship was commissioned in 1715 by King George I of England, before being captured by "Black Sam" Bellamy in 1717.
"This particular ship is amazing because it actually traveled the world with the most amazing captain who's known even today on the Forbes list of highest earning pirates as number one," Shapiro said.
Bellamy was an English sailor who traveled to Cape Cod in search of treasure. But he also found love along the way, falling for an Eastham woman named Maria Hallett, according to legend. After her family disapproved of the match, he set off to find a fortune to win her hand.
"He [the captain] traveled the world basically in an effort to try to find a dowry for his fiancée in the name of love, but became a pirate down in the south. He eventually amassed a large crew, which took literally the treasures and goods off of many other ships that came back right up here into the New England area," said the managing director of the Real Pirates Museum in Salem Carolyn Shapiro.
The museum says that he captured the Whydah and around 50 other ships during his time as a pirate, earning him the nickname "the Prince of Pirates."
The Whydah sailed around the world until April 26, 1717, when a bad nor'easter hit the ship off the coast of Wellfleet. The ship sank with all of its treasure. Only two of the 146 crew members survived. Bellamy died at the age of 28.
Massachusetts native discovers pirate shipwreck
Treasure Hunter Barry Clifford posing beside ship's bell retrieved from wreckage off pirate galley Whydah that foundered on sandbank off coast of Cape Cod.
/ Getty Images
Then in 1984, famous explorer and Massachusetts native Barry Clifford discovered the wreck of the Whydah, the only authenticated pirate shipwreck. Barry and his son, Brendan, continue to dive to the shipwreck to this day.
In honor of the anniversary this weekend, The Real Pirates Museum in Salem is hosting several events to celebrate the ship in its glory days. This includes tours by candlelight, singing sea shanties, and lots of special events.
For more information about the museum and this weekend's events, click here.
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