New England Pirate Museum

The most fun-filled place in Salem. The unique and little-known history of New England sea-robbers comes alive at the Pirate Museum.

Relive the adventures of Captains Kidd and Blackbeard, who roamed freely offshore plundering merchant ships. Participate in an educational, historically accurate and entertaining, live walking tour with a qualified guide who encourages student participation and questions. The tour starts in our artifacts room with authentic pirate treasures. Then you'll stroll through a colonial seaport, board a pirate ship, and explore an eighty foot cave, where you are sure to encounter some of those 17th century rascals face to face. Join us at the Pirate Museum to learn more about New England's adventurous sea-robbers. Curriculum packets are available. Inquire about our educational pirate visiting your school. Seasonal - May through November.

Notorious pirate captains, such as; Kidd, Blackbeard, Bellamy and Quelch, roamed the waters off Boston's North Shore, known as the Gold Coast, while so-called witches were being hanged at Salem. Like many of today's New Englanders, pirates spent their winters in the tropics and their summers here. Most 17th and 18th-century pirates were, in fact, New Englanders and New Yorkers, with gold and silver from Central America and merchandise from Europe. Many buried their ill-gotten treasures off shore on the islands that dot our coast, and much of it is still there, just waiting to be dug up.

You will not only mingle with these swashbucklers of old, but you will become part of their world as you walk the dockside village, board their ship and witness them in battle. The dark, winding bat-cave will fill you with anticipation, and you'll feel their awesome presence as you discover hidden treasures... It's an experience you won't forget.

- Roam our "Artifacts Room" of real treasures, and meet the shady residents of Old Salem's Dockside Village.

- Explore below decks and wind your way through the 80-foot cave, where treasures are buried and cave-creatures dwell.

- We guarantee you and yours a fascinating and exciting adventure, an interesting and little-known history lesson - and a lot of fun!

A 20- to 30-minute walking tour, where you'll meet some 60 buccaneers from the days of yore, and you'll behold their artifacts and treasures. Visit a recreated dockside village, board a pirate ship and meander an eighty-foot batcave, filled with hidden booty. These pirates, and not accused witches, were the real rascals and villains of 1692 in Olde Salem Towne.