The Panther Bay
Pirate Blog

Now, for some good light hearted news! A new pirate museum has opened in St. Augustine, Florida . The museum is called the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum and will include artifacts from the Golden Age of Piracy (1600s and 1700s). According to a report at Jacksonville.com:

The museum is owned by Pat Croce, former president of the Philadelphia 76ers as well as an author, reality TV judge, sports commentator and motivational speaker. He is bringing many of the exhibits from the Pirate Soul museum he previously owned in Key West, but there will be additions.

St. Augustine has such a documented and colorful pirate history, and "we're right at the bay where [Sir Francis] Drake sailed in," Croce said in a written statement. "They raided this town, they raided this exact location. We're really bringing history to life."

Pirates first captured Croce's interest when he saw the movie "Captain Blood," starring Errol Flynn, as a child, said museum spokeswoman Kari Cobham.

Featured collections will include authentic pirate artifacts dating back to 1563, the only surviving treasure chest in the world, one of only two Jolly Roger flags still in existence, Captain Kidd's original journal and some of Blackbeard's gold. Large exhibits will feature a recreated ship deck; Rogue's Tavern, a pirate hangout; and Port Royal, Jamaica, a 17th century lawless pirate stronghold.

An exhibit on Hollywood pirates is also included "to differentiate between what is real in the rest of the museum," Cobham said. It will include the sword of Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film.

Sounds like an excuse for a pilgramage!