Artifacts are more than the sum of their parts. Rather than seeing artifacts as just things, we should instead see them as silent storytellers, enlightening whoever may listen with tales of their making, their application, and their eventual retirement from use.

Imagine your own adventure on the high seas as you navigate this fascinating gallery.

Learn about the ancient civilization of Mali through artifacts, objects, and pictures.

High-resolution digital images are available for print and electronic publications, educational programs, research, commercial television, and personal use. Reproductions of specific items in the Collection are also available as high-quality giclée reproductions.

In early 2019, an East Carolina University student, Jacquelyn Hewett, studied one of the figureheads in our Collection for her American Maritime Material Culture history class. The information she uncovered was enlightening and indicated that a change in the attribution of ship name was in order. While confirming her research, I uncovered the story of a wonderfully awesome woman I thought I would share with you!