The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library (JMM) and Washington Heritage Museums (WHM) present a day of pirates on Saturday, Aug. 23.
“Piracy was a scourge of American commerce for nearly 300 years, and James Monroe did his part to combat it,” said James Monroe Museum staff. “The practice also contributed to the folklore of the east coast and the Caribbean.”
The daytime program — “Every Species of Lawless Adventure: James Monroe and the Fight against Piracy”– will be held 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at The James Monroe Museum, 908 Charles St., in downtown Fredericksburg. The event will feature puppet shows about the pirate Blackbeard, presented by Carson Hudson’s Historical Diversions, as well as games and crafts. The event is free with the price of museum admission — $5/adult or $1/child. Free for ages 5 and under, museum members, and UMW employees, students, and alumni.
The evening event — “Pirates and Punch” — will be held 6:30 – 9 p.m. at Rising Sun Tavern, 1304 Caroline St., Fredericksburg.
Dr. Daniel Preston, University of Mary Washington (UMW) History and American Studies professor and editor of the Papers of James Monroe, will describe the fight against piracy in Spanish Florida during Monroe’s presidency. Fredericksburg’s A. Smith Bowman Distillery will then present a history of rum, followed by tastings.
The cost to attend “Pirates and Punch” is $20/person ($15/Friends of JMM or members of WHM). Reservations are required: RSVP to 540-654-1123 or [email protected].
Stay connected. Follow Fredericksburg.Today on Facebook and Twitter, too.
