Kids are always intrigued by pirates-the eye patch, the tropical bird on the shoulder, the peg leg, the treasure, the big ship-and this spring and summer they can learn about some real ones from the 1700s at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (www.dmns.org).
In this new special exhibition, “Real Pirates: The Untold Story of The Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship,” children get a history lesson with all the bells—yes, the original one raised from the sea floor with the rest of the ship!—and whistles.
The exhibit begins with a dramatic short film (complete with booming thunder and cracks of lightning) before you enter the large exhibit space where there are model ships and a life-ship model to walk through, a Jolly roger flag to hoist, cannons, knots to be tied, and over 200 artifacts from the Whydah. Including….drum roll, please!…actually treasure. Even this Mom was impressed by that overflowing chest of such unique coins.
A treasure map is available for younger children to experience the exhibit, and everyone gets a paper pirate hat to take home.
– By Mindy Sink
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is one of the featured sights to see in Mindy Sink’s “Moon Handbooks Guide to Denver.” Learn more at www.mindysink.com and www.moon.com.
