This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Pirate Exhibit Storms Petaluma Historical Museum

Swashbucklers of the high seas may be the stuff of legend, but they also left an indelible mark on Northern California

The golden age of piracy is coming to the with an eclectic exhibit that includes authentic cannonballs, coins and a treasure hunt for an old silver coin now worth hundreds of dollars.

Curator Nicklaus Hoffman, adjunct professor of film and mass communication at Santa Rosa Junior College, says the exhibit will be more than just a showcase of pirate paraphernalia, instead examining the myth versus the reality of pirates, who he calls America's "antiheroes."

“Pirates often started out as privateers in service to the crown,” says Hoffman. "Eventually they thumbed their noses at convention and created their own rules. But life at sea and between combatants in that era was often brutal.”

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Drawing from his background in theater and film, Hoffman, 43, wants to create an experience that immerses visitors into the life of a pirate. Kids can make pirate flags, learn to tie a sailor’s knot and smell spices that were once as valuable as gold. Adults can view the Rogues Gallery, featuring images and information on infamous buccaneers like Henry Morgan and Blackbeard, as well as female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Reade. Scenes from pirate movies will play alongside sea shanties, nautical music and sound effects.

Additionally, there will be separate screenings of pirate-themed movies, old and new. Hoffman has even made a short film, "Treasure Hunt: Lost Pirates of Petaluma," a fictional account of "pirates" who were chased out by the Spaniards but left their treasure behind.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"This fascination with pirates has become part of our culture," says Joe Noriel, president of the museum, citing blockbusters, sports names, and kids’ Halloween costumes as evidence. "It's a subject that captivates people, who relate to ideas of a more adventurous and less predictable life."

The museum's goal is not only to look at the fantasy aspects of piracy, but also to show the social and economic forces that compelled them toward that career choice.

“Pirates hold a place in our imagination, for the young and the old,” says Hoffman, who has been drawn by the allure of pirates since childhood. It wasn’t until planning his own pirate-themed wedding, with guests arriving in full costume and tri-corn hats, that Hoffman's obsession grew. Then he began acquiring pirate-related items, mostly reproductions.

“It’s the stuff that every other adventure came from,” Hoffman says.

At one time, he owned only one pirate history book. Now he has shelves of them, including a borrowed copy of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson in the original first edition, as well as an artisan copy with a beautiful ship on its cover.

Join the museum for opening night, Sept. 16, from 6-7 p.m. for live music, light fare and rum tasting.

“We’re asking folks to let the pirate within come out and play that night,” says Liz Cohee, museum coordinator. "Join with other pirates of like mind,” she says, adding that you don’t have to dress up to participate.

You might count yourself lucky to win the loot in a local treasure hunt, searching for a real silver pirate coin from the ship, Santa Maria La Conception. This authentic piece, valued at $500, will be hidden in a secret place in Petaluma during the exhibit.

The exhibit runs from Sept. 16-Nov. 28. Museum hours are Thursday to Saturday 10am – 4pm and Sundays 12-3pm. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?