Pirates of Nassau Museum

The Bahamas has a lengthy history of piracy, and the Pirate Museum in Nassau is the best place to learn about it. Combining entertainment with history, the museum offers fun for the whole family. 

While there are many museums in the Bahamas worth visiting, the Pirate Museum in Nassau is one you’ll want to check out. From interactive exhibits to pirate mannequins and more, the museum illustrates the extensive impact piracy had on the country. It also does so in an entertaining way, ensuring that travelers of all ages can learn something new. 

Pirate Museum in Nassau: Learn About the Nassau Pirates

Pirates Nassau Bahamas: A History

Piracy played an important role in the early history of the Bahamas. From 1690-1720, the world endured the Golden Age of Piracy, when pirates menaced ships and settlements in the Caribbean, the Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean.

The Bahamas was at the center of much of this, with Nassau being a metaphorical and literal base of operations. Pirates favored the shallow waters around New Providence, as giant European vessels weren’t able to navigate the turquoise expanses. Smaller pirate ships, however, could. 

The Pirates of Nassau Museum features a replica pirate ship.

Over time, European powers invested time, money, and manpower into combating piracy. On Nassau, the three surviving forts – Fort Montagu, Fort Charlotte, andFort Fincastle – all sought to deter pirates from raiding the island. 

While pirates may no longer prowl the Caribbean waters, their legacy lives on at the Pirate Museum in Nassau. 

What to See at the Pirates of Nassau Museum

Learn About Pirates Nassau Bahamas

The recreated scenes make it easy to digest historical moments.

The Pirate Museum in Nassau is small but still contains plenty of information. 

As you explore the attraction, you’ll come across many different signs. From introducing famous pirates, like Edward Teach, to highlighting what life on the sea was like, the museum excels at painting a picture of what the Golden Age of Piracy was like. 

There are also trivia questions scattered throughout the museum. These contain a cloth which you can lift up to reveal the answer. 

Explore the Pirate Ship Replica

The interior of the pirate ship at the Pirate Museum in Nassau.

As you walk through the museum, you’ll also come across a pirate ship replica. This reconstructed vessel shows off what you could expect living aboard a pirate ship. 

Complete with moody lighting, the ship feels like something out of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. While adults will find the ship replica interesting, kids, in particular, will enjoy the experience of boarding and exploring the vessel. 

View the Other Exhibits 

The museum showcases what life in a pirate brig was like.

In addition to the pirate ship replica, the Pirates of Nassau Museum also houses several other exhibits. Like the ship, these showcase what life in the company of pirates was like centuries ago.

From boarding enemy ships and disembarking on land to being held captive in prison cells, the exhibits show how challenging pirate life was. 

Before you exit the museum, you’ll pass through a small gift shop. Here you can buy a souvenir for yourself or someone back home to help them understand the impact pirates had on the Bahamas!

Getting into the Nassau Bahamas Pirate Museum

The Nassau Bahamas Pirate Museum is one of the many Downtown Nassau attractions. Because of that, it’s easy for everyone – cruise ship passengers included – to visit. 

The Nassau Pirates Museum is easy to reach.

Travelers arriving at the island via the cruise terminal can get there in just around a five-minute walk from the port. If you’re staying at a hotel on the island, you can taxi to the downtown area, see the Pirates of Nassau Museum, and then explore other nearby attractions. 

The museum is open seven days a week. Weekday hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, with the museum closing at 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday.  

Getting Around the Nassau Pirates Museum 

The Pirate Museum in Nassau isn’t huge, so it shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes to make your way through it all. The museum’s layout has you walking through different corridors and exhibits, each of which contains fun displays and informative signs.

After exiting the museum, you’ll have plenty of time to explore some of the other nearby Nassau Old Town attractions. 

Our Travel Guide Suggests…

The Pirate Museum in Nassau offers insight into the impact pirates had on the Bahamas. If you’d like to learn more about piracy or explore other epochs of Bahamian history, consider visiting another Nassau museum or historical site to supplement your tour. 

The Heritage Museum of the Bahamas, for example, is full of pirate artifacts. 

After seeing the exhibits, make sure to visit one of the other nearby museums.

Pirate Museum in Nassau: Accessible, Fun, and Informative 

The Pirate Museum in Nassau combines family fun with history. Travelers of all ages will be sure to enjoy the museum experience and will walk away with a better understanding of the roles pirates played in the country’s history.

After you’re done touring the Nassau Bahamas Pirate Museum, you’ll have plenty of other nearby attractions to visit. Consider ordering a drink and relaxing at Junkanoo Beach, ordering food at Arawak Cay, or continuing your historical tour and visiting the Christ Church Cathedral or Bahamas Historical Society. 

To learn more about the best of the Bahamas, check out our other travel posts and browse our interactive Nassau map.