Hello all!
Brian Kelsey from the Door County Maritime Museum. Glad to see that there is growing enthusiasm for our upcoming new exhibit entitled Pirates! which opens to the public on May 12, 2007 and will run through January 21, 2008.
Here is some further information on what will be happening and you are reading this before our members have even seen it!
Avast ye landlubbers!
The Door County Maritime Museum is preparing an exhibit on pirates, a show to appeal to the fascination shared by adults and children alike. The exhibit will include real history on the likes of Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonney and Mary Read, original works by nationally known painter and pirate illustrator Don Maitz, interactive stations to experience the challenge of a pirate’s life, and a look at the crime and criminals that plied the Great Lakes.
The pirates of the golden age lived a life of adventure and danger. We will present the men and women who took pursuit of Spanish galleons through the use of historic engravings, maps, and artifacts. A look at their ships, weapons, and quarry, and how they maintained loyalties among their crew and struck fear in their enemies.
Through the efforts of our many talented and dedicated volunteers, we have researched, written, and have begun construction. With their interest, we have made contact with institutions and businesses to borrow artifacts and arrange for speakers. From the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, Inc. of Key West, Florida, we have requested coins, domestic objects and elements of armament. These objects were recovered from the Atocha and the Santa Margarita, both members of the 1622 Spanish fleet returning to Spain with treasure taken from the new world. There are ship elements off the wreck of the 40 gun Queen Anne’s Revenge loaned from the North Carolina Maritime Museum. This was one of last the vessels sailed by Edward Teach, a.k.a. Blackbeard. We will also be borrowing small arms from the Milwaukee Public Museum and coins from the Bureau of Archaeological Research in Tallahassee.
With electronic wizardry and a section of gun deck, we will challenge our visitors in the capture of an opponent vessel, and take them on a virtual tour of a sailing ship of the day. A touch screen will allow the visitor to learn about the daily life of a pirate - how they entertained themselves with sea shanties, what they ate, what were the consequences for disobedience, and even a look at the kind of critters they would take along for pets. A kid’s cabin will be available for the little ones to try on pirate garb and gain an understanding of who ran the ship and who swabbed the decks.
We will portray a Great Lakes history not usually found in the tour books. From the notorious 19th century character of James Jesse Strang and the colorful Captain Dan Seavey to those who lived above the law during prohibition. There is the the distilling of bitters on Washington Island and the transportation of illegal alcohol from Canada to Chicago and the men who moved it. And still, there is the legend of Poverty Island gold and the Pewabic with her sunken treasure some have died for.
Additionally, the Bridgeroom will showcase the brilliantly colored and deftly rendered work of Don Maitz to lend an exciting and fun element to the exhibit portraying real and fictional pirates.
Through these stories and others like them, we will offer an exhibit to engage the whole family, presenting history in an environment designed to be enlightening as well as entertaining. Look for it next year, ye have been warned!
