Step aside Jack Sparrow, these pirates rule the waters.

A story of love, loot, and loss has never been so real—until now. Sail into Arizona Science Center’s newest exhibit, “Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship,” and discover what piracy really meant 300 years ago. Entertain all your senses with video segments, audio recordings of historian’s account of piracy and slave trade, a walk through of the replicated Whydah, and touch real pirate coins!

 

The interactive exhibit seamlessly ties together the story of Whydah with the explorer who discovered her, Barry Clifford. Venture through Whydah’s journey—from the maiden voyage from West Africa to the Caribbean, to its capture by captain Sam Bellamy and his army of pirates and their looting of 50 other ships, and finally, to its tragic demise off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Over 200 artifacts recovered from the ship are on display to help weave together the two adventures.

 

Then, step into “Pirate Prince,” Barry Clifford’s, adventure in finding the ship and the expedition he led as a National Geographic Explorer that, as the “Prince” himself put it, “after 30 years, we are still discovering treasures from Whydah.” His expedition not only discovered the only pirate ship in U.S waters, but also the only fully authentic pirate ship in the world! Thousands of artifacts including canons, coins, the Whydah bell, and other everyday tools shed light on the tumultuous period. “The sheer volume of artifacts, from more than 50 other ships, provides a rare window into the otherwise mysterious world of 18th-century pirates,” Clifford said. “I see this exhibition as the culmination of my many years of work. Most importantly, it is a chance to bring the real story of pirates to the public as it's never been told before.” This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity won’t drift by again. The traveling exhibit will be anchored at the Science Center until January 15, 2012. For more information, visit www.azscience.org