A shipwreck confirmed by its own bell. Only two survivors from a 1717 pirate disaster. Artifacts still emerging from beneath 30 feet of Cape Cod sand. The Whydah Pirate Museum is built on facts that sound like fiction — but every piece of the story is documented.
As the only authenticated pirate shipwreck ever found, the museum blends scholarship, science and retail. Artifacts recovered from the site, first located in 1984, anchor the narrative as staff archaeologists show how coins, tools and personal items are freed from centuries-old concretions.
Photos: Bryan Stearns
The gift shop extends this work with merchandise tied to the ship, the dig and the continuing effort to uncover a mother lode that still lies beneath the sand.
Meredith Katz came on board as a manager in 2016 while her husband was helping with the museum build-out. Formerly a substitute teacher, she was steering into summer when the opportunity landed and has been anchored there since then.
Q. What sets the Whydah story apart from other pirate narratives?
A. The biggest thing is authenticity. We’re home to the world’s only verified pirate treasure. Other wrecks have been found, but none had the telltale artifact — the ship’s bell inscribed 1716. The Whydah began as a slave ship, was overtaken by Sam Bellamy’s crew and wrecked in a brutal storm off Wellfleet. It’s real history, not folklore.
The museum is a life’s passion for its founder Barry Clifford, a diver whose dream was to find pirates’ treasure along the Cape. He almost gave up until one last dive in 1984 with his buddy, John F. Kennedy Jr. It was a lucky day. The next year they unearthed one of three anchors belonging to the shipwrecked Whydah, and finally the bell. Dives continue today.
Q. Your gift shop is compact but packed. How do you approach buying?
A. I’m very intentional. I don’t buy every pirate item out there. We focus on quality and pieces that tie back to our mission. We created our own apparel line, Expedition Whydah, with designs produced by Advanced Embroidery. We also carry hats, sweatshirts and tees with our logo and ship artwork.
Q. What are some of your bestselling items at the gift shop?
A. Foam swords from Rhode Island Novelty are safer than plastic and absolutely our No. 1 seller. Our custom “booty bags” are also huge with kids: little sacks filled with plastic coins, gems, rocks and rings. We also sell treasure chests in different sizes, telescopes, wooden ship kits, toy pistols from Design Masters and beautiful Folkmanis puppets. There’s a scarlet macaw, along with whales and sharks, which are big on the Cape.
Magnets and patches are consistent sellers. People collect them everywhere they go.
Our ornaments from Cape Shore do well, especially the pirate ship series. We have a new gingerbread pirate ship ornament that’s very fun.
And our color-changing mug from The Mug Experience is a top seller. It starts off black and has our logo in silver or gold, and when you add hot water, the whole Whydah ship appears.
Of course, we offer pirate hats in different styles and colors and it’s usually the first thing people grab and put on to take pictures.
Q. What do sales support at the Whydah Pirate Museum gift shop?
A. Everything goes back to the dive and research. We’re still actively excavating, and every purchase helps fund that work. When someone buys a magnet or a sword or a sweatshirt, they’re supporting archaeology.
