From Historic Bath State Historic Site

The pirate history of Bath is no secret. It has, in fact, been brought to the forefront of interpretation at Historic Bath Site through the arrival and display of the Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge Traveling Exhibit through July 26, 2014. In connection with the Traveling Exhibit, Historic Bath Site will be hosting visitors for a brand new event: “Pirates in the Port!”

On July 12, pirates will, once again, take over Bath. The Devilmen of Cape Feare, a living history group, will be re-enacting Bath’s part in Blackbeard’s life and sudden end at Ocracoke. The “British” will sail to Harding’s Landing State Dock off of Main Street at 10 a.m. to report on Blackbeard’s death. The prisoners will then be marched down to Bonner’s Point on the corner of Main and Front Streets to the pirate encampment where they will remain until 4 p.m. During this re-enactment, visitors may expect to learn about the pirate history of Bath through live demonstrations, as well as through being able to roam the areas, watch, listen to and talk with the Devilmen of Cape Feare re-enactors.

There will be two lectures occurring at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Noe Building in the afternoon. The first lecture at 1 p.m., titled “What’s Wrong with Black Beard? An Indictment of the Notorious Pirate’s History and New Surprising Facts,” will be presented by author Kevin Duffus. This project is made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affliliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Directly following at 2 p.m., Dr. Charlie Ewen from East Carolina University will present, “X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy.” The seating for these lectures is first come, first serve.

All “Pirates in the Port” activities are free to the public. These activities include the Devilmen of Cape Feare re-enactment and demonstrations, as well as the lectures held in the Noe Building.

Tours of the Palmer-Marsh and Bonner Houses will run as normal with tours alternating between the houses beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. Tours of each house are $2 per adult and $1 per youth (grades K-12) and may be purchased at the Historic Bath Site Visitor Center located at 207 Carteret St. The Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge Traveling Exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside the Visitor Center, as will the Van Der Veer House exhibit building — both areas being free of charge.

For more information about “Pirates in the Port,” call 252-923-3971.