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Arrrgh you ready? Largest traveling exhibit in MOSH’s history opens this weekend

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The first level of MOSH’s new shipwreck-themed exhibit. Photos by DVI.

Downtown’s Museum of Science and History is excited to unveil its latest educational treasure this weekend: Odyssey’s Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasure.

Spanning two floors of the museum, this exhibit from Tampa is the largest traveling exhibit ever at MOSH. Features include authentic shipwreck artifacts, life-size shipwreck excavation equipment, historical displays about pirate life and interactive activities. The “Blue China” ship, sunk off the coast of Jacksonville in the mid-1800s, is one of several shipwrecks highlighted in the exhibit.

“It truly expresses our mission,” said MOSH executive director Maria Hane at a special preview tour Thursday. “It brings to life the history of our area.”

Odyssey’s Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasure opens Saturday, Oct. 11, with special grand-opening activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Several shipwreck-themed events are scheduled as well, including Little Learners: Pirate Adventure (Jan. 14), MOSH After Dark: Bacardi Rum Workshop (Jan. 29) and Pirate and Princess Day (Feb. 21), to name a few. For more information about the exhibit and other MOSH happenings, visit themosh.org.

Odyssey’s Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasure is on display through March 31. Check out the photos below for a preview:

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“Zeus” represents the excavation vehicle used to recover shipwreck artifacts.
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The second level of the exhibit houses the treasures – blocks of silver, coins, glass bottles and more recovered from shipwrecks.
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An iron swivel gun recovered from “La Marquise de Tourny” French shipwreck, is thought to be from 1744.
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The exhibit includes several interactive activities for children and adults, including a pirates flag display, hurricane simulator and “Shake Your Booty” guessing game.
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Ellen Gerth, archaeological curator for Odyssey Marine Exploration, speaks to the media tour during the special exhibit preview Thursday.