Pirates were sighted in Gatlinburg Thursday as the Ripley’s Aquarium opened a new 2005 hands-on exhibit aptly named, “Pirates! Predators of the Sea.” One of the objectives of the exhibit is to clarify what really happened from the Hollywood hype that comes to many minds when pirates are mentioned. Steve File, General Manager of the Aquarium, said, “This is the real story of what happened during the years that pirates ruled the seas.”
The interactive exhibit features scale models, hands-on demonstrations, videos, live animals and more. There is a room that looks like the inside of a ship with hammocks, a dining area and even a cannon that makes a boom! The staff even added live cockroaches and rats to make it look more realistic.
Fun, yet educational questions are answered that many may have about the buccaneers, for example, ‘Did pirates really make their victims walk the plank?” Or another, “Did the pirates really wear fancy clothes?”
Other interesting facts emerge about the pirates. They democratically elected their captains, and in some instances received disability pay. Famous pirates, such as Blackbeard are elaborated on also.
“Pirates! Predators of the Sea,” will run through the end of 2005, and is included in the Aquarium’s admission fee. It is well worth going to Gatlinburg to see this treasure.

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