Pirates of Nassau Museum, Nassau (must see)

Pirates of Nassau Museum is an interactive museum designed to introduce visitors to the pirate era that shaped Nassau’s early history. Rather than a traditional display museum, it uses immersive sets and walk-through exhibits to recreate the atmosphere of the town during its most notorious period. Visitors enter the experience by boarding a full-scale replica of the pirate ship Revenge, which serves as the starting point for the exhibition.

The period roughly between the late 17th century and the early 18th century is commonly referred to as the Golden Age of Piracy. During these years, Nassau gained a reputation as a major pirate base due to its protected harbor and surrounding shallow waters. These conditions allowed pirates to navigate small, shallow-draft vessels through channels inaccessible to larger naval ships, while still maintaining quick access to major Atlantic trade routes.

The museum presents this history in an accessible, theatrical format. Visitors move through a recreated dockside settlement before stepping aboard the ship, where exhibits explain pirate life, maritime navigation, and the social codes that governed pirate crews. Displays include reconstructed living quarters, weapons, tools, and everyday objects associated with seafaring life.

Several historical figures are introduced along the route, including well-known pirates such as Blackbeard, as well as Woodes Rogers, whose arrival in 1718 marked the end of Nassau’s pirate era. The museum also highlights women pirates, notably Anne Bonny and Mary Read, whose stories challenge common assumptions about piracy.

Thematic rooms include the Marooned exhibit, illustrating punishments for breaking pirate codes, and the Flag Room, which explains the symbolism of pirate flags used to intimidate targets. An on-site restaurant, Smugglers, offers Bahamian dishes such as conch salad, allowing visitors to extend the experience beyond the exhibition.