February 8 - January 6
On February 8, 2012, the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina will open its new temporary exhibit, "'The Animal Called POW': U.S. Special Forces Prisoners of the Vietcong." The exhibit will feature U.S. Army Special Forces and MACV prisoners of war held in South Vietnam, as well as attempted rescue missions, current SERE training, and modern POW stories. The exhibit will close on January 6, 2013.
March 10 - May 31
Cache from Blackbeard's Ship has Docked at the Museum of the Cape Fear
A case exhibit of artifacts from the wreck Queen Anne’s Revenge (QAR), (www.qaronline.org) Blackbeard’s flagship, will be on display at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex from March 10 through May 31. The exhibit originated at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort, the official repository for the shipwreck artifacts, within the Division of State History Museums, NC Dept. of Cultural Resources.
The artifacts displayed are examples of the variety found at the shipwreck. The exhibit includes iron shot for cannon, small caliber lead shot for firearms, a grinding stone used for sharpening tools and weapons, a small piece of gold, and several other items that were aboard Blackbeard’s ship. Exhibit panels offer information on Blackbeard, the QAR, the QAR project, underwater archaeology, and the conservation of artifacts.
Originally, Queen Anne’s Revenge was a slave ship called La Concorde, owned by a French merchant. Capable of carrying 516 slaves, Blackbeard captured La Concorde in November 1717. In June 1718, the frigate QAR and the sloop Adventure ran aground in what is now Beaufort Inlet.
This wreck was located in November 1996 by Intersal, Inc. with information provided to Operations Director Mike Daniel by company president Phil Masters. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, Office of State Archaeology began underwater excavations at the site in 1997, and has lead the research on this shipwreck.
The exhibit is open for viewing during the museum’s regular operating hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Admission is free. Visitors are encouraged to “Like” and check our Facebook page for dates and times regarding special events and programs that will coincide with the special exhibit.
May 1 - 31
In commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, we will open “Fayetteville and Cumberland County in the War of 1812” on May 1. This exhibit will highlight the military, political, and social history of the era. National events such as the inspiration for our National Anthem, the burning of the White House, and Battle of New Orleans will set the stage for events affecting North Carolina. Learn about the state’s defense measures and the British invasion along our coast. Explore the weapons and tactics of Napoleonic warfare and gain a greater understanding of the war’s impact on the home front in Fayetteville and the surrounding area.
