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Ocean Portal by The Smithsonian Institution

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IMAGE GALLERY Pirates of the Golden Age Meet seven of the most fearsome pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy. Like pirates? Read more about William Dampier, a most fearsome pirate -- and naturalist.MORE GALLERIES


	VIDEO MORE VIDEOS Protecting Titanic: 100 Years Later One hundred years after it sank on April 15, the RMS Titanic still rests on the...
	PHOTO MORE PHOTOS Giant Squid Myth A giant squid attacks a boat - something that has not been known to happen in re...
	BLOG POST MORE STORIES Still Blue After a Century of Ocean Science and Exploration This year marks 100 years since the National Museum of Natural History opened it...

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					Fish Swim Around Shipwreck Mar 11, 2013 - 7:27AMFish swim around the wreck of the HMT Bedfordshire, an Arctic fishing trawler that was converted into an anti-submarine warship during World War II. Originally part of Great Britain's Royal Navy, it was sent to assist the...

First Giant Squid Photo

Mar 6, 2013 - 8:27AM

This 1874 photo of a squid draped over a bathtub was the first ever taken of...

Whale Products in Fashion

Jan 23, 2013 - 12:35PM

In the 19th century, "whalebone" was an important fashion tool—however, it...

SPOTLIGHT


The Sant Ocean Hall: Salmon Shape a Way of Life Boats Connect Us to the Ocean More than any other objects, boats symbolize human connection to the ocean. As you look...

Earth Day, Spawned from the Sea Apr 22 2013 - 10:29am Sometimes I think that our planet Earth, named for the Old English word for “dry land” (eorthe), should get a new name. Despite our knowledge that more than 70% of the planet’s surface is ocean—definitely not “dry land”—we still refer to our home by an 8th century description. The same goes for...	Early Eskimo Point Sep 12 2011 - 11:55am About 2,500 years ago cold climate brought the first Inuit peoples into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off the coast of Eastern Canada. Early Eskimo groups, known as Groswater Dorset, occupied many sites along the Lower North Shore, and as far west as Cape Whittle. With warming climates these Eskimo...
Ancient Maritime Archaic Indian Point Sep 9 2011 - 6:05pm Smithsonian surveys along the lower north shore of Hare Harbor in Quebec, Canada have revealed evidence of a long history of Native American occupation, beginning with the Maritime Archaic Indian culture beginning 8000 years ago. Their later descendants of 3,500 years ago built longhouses with...	New Guinea Fish and Crab Jul 9 2010 - 1:22pm The waters of New Guinea teemed with exotic fishes and crabs, which were faithfully depicted by William Dampier’s artist. When Dampier’s book A Voyage to New Holland was published in 1703, illustrations like these—along with Dampier’s vivid prose—introduced enthusiastic readers to plants, birds,...
The “Right” Whale to Hunt Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am Yankee Whalers: An 1856 Currier & Ives print shows whalers harpooning a right whale. More about whales can be found in our Tale of a Whale photo essay.	From Plantation to Pirate Ship Jul 27 2010 - 11:49am CREDIT: David Clark Observations of the New World In between pillaging and plundering, Dampier spent every spare moment exploring the natural environment and meticulously documenting everything in sight. He was charmed by all the new animals and plants he came across. He described the...
Ceremonial Rattles Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am Classic examples of Northwest Coast art, these rattles from British Columbia illustrate the sophisticated way of life salmon helped provide. They were used during shamanistic performances to cure sickness and combat witchcraft.	Captain Bartholomew Roberts Jul 29 2010 - 3:45pm Eventually, however, Bartholomew Roberts’ luck came to end. He was killed off the coast of Africa. Following his wishes, his crew threw his body into the sea—finery and all. Then, in the largest pirate trial ever held, 52 members of Roberts’ crew were tried and hung—helping to bring the Golden Age...
Battle of the Atlantic Jan 14 2011 - 2:51pm The ocean holds a lot of history. Warships from World War II have been found on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean through the use of sonar technology and are being explored before they give in to the elements and deteriorate. Explore other videos that capture the beauty and mystery of the ocean realm...	Dampier’s First World Voyage Jul 6 2010 - 5:02pm This map shows the route of pirate and naturalist William Dampier’s first voyage around the world. The journey lasted more than 12 years. Learn more about William Dampier, his voyage, and his discoveries!
Excavation of an Inuit House Sep 9 2011 - 3:11pm Excavations between 2002 through 2011 at Hare Harbor have shown that this site was a whaling and fishing station occupied by Basque and Inuit assistants ca. 1680-1730. Archaeologists have uncovered a cookhouse, a blacksmith shop, and the remains of several Inuit winter houses like the one seen here...	Celebrating Traditional Canoes Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am Members of the Squamish Nation paddle their canoe to a 1997 festival celebrating traditional Native canoe arts. Native peoples of the Northwest Coast believe each canoe has its own spirit. Designs on their canoes reflect this spiritual relationship with the natural world.
Fresh Shellfish for Sale Nov 18 2010 - 5:20pm A local woman sells live shellfish from her boat in Halong Bay, Vietnam.	Blackbeard’s Pirate Flag Jul 6 2010 - 4:53pm Blackbeard’s flag showed a skeleton piercing a heart and toasting the devil. Watch a slideshow about legendary pirates of the Golden Age, and learn more about an unusual pirate: William Dampier, who also was a scientist and naturalist.
Dampier and Shark Bay, Australia Jul 2 2010 - 12:11pm Dampier explored this area of Western Australia and named it Shark Bay because of the “abundance” of sharks in the waters. It is now a World Heritage site. Learn more about Dampier's voyages around the world, his scientific discoveries, and his pirate antics.	Portrait of Bartholomew Roberts Jul 7 2010 - 1:03pm Roberts dressed in embroidered coats and hats with feathered plumes, like an elegant gentleman. One of the most successful pirates of all, he captured 400 vessels in just three years! Learn about more pirates of the golden age.