Grand Opening of New Blackbeard Exhibit in Beaufort

June 14th, 2011

Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge exhibit at NC Maritime MuseumNational interest in the legend of Blackbeard is running high following the recent discovery of a 3,000-pound anchor in Beaufort Inlet, believed to be an artifact from the pirate’s wreck off the North Carolina coast nearly 300 years ago. Coincidentally, a new exhibit on Blackbeard and his famed sailing vessel is now opening at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

In 1718, the notorious pirate ran his flagship Queen Anne’s Revenge aground in Beaufort Inlet, roughly two miles from where the Museum stands today. On Saturday, June 11, the Museum opened the “Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge” exhibit, showcasing the artifacts and history of the wreckage.

“This is the most significant exhibition the Museum has undertaken in several decades,” said Museum Director Joseph Schwarzer. “It will be the most definitive and comprehensive display of Queen Anne’s Revenge material to date.”

The new exhibit illuminates the life of pirates aboard the ship from 1717 to 1718, with interactive features and newly released key artifacts including a whole wine bottle, sail cloth, glass beads, cannon tompions, clothing items, cask parts and French ceramics. Old favorites such as cannon and weapons from previous displays will be featured as well.

Call the NC Maritime Museum for more information, 252-728-7317 or visit ncmaritimemuseums.com.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Activities & Attractions, Beaufort, Events & News | No Comments »

BLACKBEARD’S ANCHOR RECOVERED OFF N.C. COAST

June 2nd, 2011

An Associated Press story picked up by USA Today, archaeologists recovered the first anchor from what’s believed to be the wreck of the pirate Blackbeard’s flagship off the North Carolina coast last Friday, a move that might change plans about how to save the rest of the almost 300-year-old artifacts from the central part of the ship.  Divers had planned to recover the second-largest artifact on what’s believed to be the Queen Anne’s Revenge but discovered it was too well-attached to other items in the ballast pile, said project Mark Wilde-Ramsing.  Instead they pulled up another anchor that is the third-largest artifact and likely was the typical anchor for the ship. State officials hope the anchor and other artifacts will attract visitors. The largest exhibit of artifacts from the shipwreck, which was discovered in 1996, will be shown starting June 11 at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort.  Wilde-Ramsing has said the team hopes to recover all the artifacts by the end of 2013.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Activities & Attractions, Beaufort, Crystal Coast | No Comments »

Queen Anne’s Revenge Dive Set to Resume in Beaufort Inlet

May 26th, 2011

State underwater archaeology divers will begin a two-week dive expedition this week at the shipwreck in Beaufort Inlet presumed to be the Queen Anne’s Revenge, flagship of the notorious pirate Blackbeard.  One of the goals of the expedition is to
bring up a 13-foot by 8-foot wrought iron anchor, one of four large anchors remaining at the site.  A 5-foot grapnel anchor was retrieved from the site in 2009 and is undergoing conservation.  The dive expedition is one of many events leading up to the June 11 grand opening of the new Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge exhibit at the N.C. Maritime Museum.  The exhibit will
showcase the artifacts and history of the wreckage, and will fill about a third of the museum’s exhibit space.  To find out more, click here.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Activities & Attractions, Crystal Coast | No Comments »