Pirates & the New World features the ‘real’ pirates of the Caribbean, who sought to plunder Spain’s treasure ships as they sailed through the Caribbean and the Florida Strait. On display are artifacts from the pirate-slaver Guerrero. Interestingly, the Key West we know today owes its origins to Pirates, as the Navy opened the first naval base here in an effort to suppress the resurgence of Pirates that was caused—in part—when importing slaves from across the Atlantic became illegal. Learn about the Caribbean buccaneers, Key West’s unique role in pirate suppression, the roles women played in the world of piracy, and how piracy is directly linked to the slave trade. Of course, you will also learn about famous pirates!
Spanish Coins New World Treasure presents the sometimes treacherous story of Spain’s coins which were mined and forged in the New World and shipped in Spanish treasure galleons across the Atlantic Ocean. Spain used forced labor to mine, coin, and import 447 million pieces of eight from 1503 to 1660. Ironically, this unprecedented influx of silver created a financial crisis for Spain and the global market. See the museum’s rarest coins from the Atocha and Santa Margarita wrecks, and learn how to identify their distinguishing marks.
The museum’s third new exhibit, The Science of Shipwrecks, provides a behind the scenes look at the archaeology and conservation of a historical shipwreck. This exhibit tells the story of the Spanish galleon Santa Clara, which sank in the Bahamas in 1564. Learn the process of excavation, conservation, and the presentation of the stories of historical shipwrecks.
To celebrate these openings, the museum is hosting a reception on Saturday Feb 22 from 6-8pm in conjunction with the Studios Key West and the Una Raza One Human international exchange project. The work of Cuban artist Sandra Ramos will be on display in the courtyard and the museum. This event is open to the public and is sponsored by the Westin.
The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum is a fully accredited nonprofit museum and research facility. Admission fees, tax deductible donations, and competitive grants support the exhibits, educational programing, historical research, and artifact conservation efforts of the museum.
The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum is located at 200 Greene Street in Key West Florida and is open seven days a week. For more information, go to www.melfishermuseum.org
For more information about this release, contact Corey Malcom at 305-294-2633 ext 22.