Pirate exhibition ends Saturday

For those looking for fun things to do this Holiday weekend, the pirate exhibit at The Museum of Idaho will be open Friday and Saturday and then it closes.

The exhibit is based on the remains of The Whydah, a real Pirate ship that was discovered under water 30 years ago.

“What’s on display at the Museum of Idaho is truly unique,” said Rod Hansen, Director of Exhibitions. “It’s from 300 years ago. In 1715, a ship sailed from London. It was taken by a pirate named Sam Belamy.”

Taking a trip to The Pirate Exhibit is educational and gives people the opportunity to see many recovered artifacts such as cannons, art work and real silver coins.

History shows that the captain of this ship had about 120 million dollars in treasure and some of it can be seen at the exhibit.

“This is touchable pirate treasure,” Hansen said. “This is about as close as you ladies are going to get to shaking hands with a pirate.”

At the exhibit, they teach about how ships were a democracy with articles each pirate signed. Each pirate had an equal say and an equal pay.

25 percent of the crew on this pirate ship were African or Native American.

“They too had equal pay and equal say though it’s 150 years till the emancipation Proclamation,” Hansen said. “If they were to set foot on shore, they would became a non-person. Here, they were equal.”

Attendees of the exhibit learn what life was like as a pirate which is a little different than what Hollywood portrays.

Saturday will be the last day of The Pirate Exhibit as they get ready for a new one.

An Old Fashioned Christmas and Winter Festival will be displayed next. It will be free of cost and include ginger breads, nativities, Santa Clause and a special surprise to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Idaho Falls.