We Make History: The 2009 Buccaneers' Ball

Photos coming soon!

Buccaneers, swashbucklers, pirates, privateers ...

They all sailed "the Spanish Main" during the days of frigates and sloops, brigs, schooners and galleons.

The heyday of the buccaneers was from circa 1650-1725 when working either individually or in great pirate fleets out of strongholds like Port Royal of Jamaica, they raided as far north as Canada and as far south as Brazil and equatorial Africa. Their targets of choice were not only Spanish treasure galleons and rich merchant vessels but also coastal towns and cities in Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela and the many small but valuable islands of the Greater and Lesser Antilles chains of the Caribbean Sea. Though mainly a 17th and 18th century phenomenon, piracy in the Caribbean did have a brief resurgence around 1820 before disappearing.

Some swashbucklers operated legally, by commission, in time of war such as the privateers (private vessels licensed by their government with a "letter of marque" to prey upon enemy commerce) which abounded during the naval wars of the 1600s, the American Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. Others were entirely outside the law. Still others moved in and out of legality with ease as the circumstances suited them.

They were Englishmen, Scotsmen, Welshmen, Dutchmen, Frenchmen, Spaniards, Portuguese, Danes, Americans, Indians and Africans. Some were loyal to their king, some to their fellow buccaneers and some only to themselves. Some had impeccable manners, some were implacable thugs. Now and again they would gather and celebrate the success of a great raid from which all returned laden with booty.

But in 2009 it was all in good fun with We Make History's annual Buccaneers' Ball!

Yohoho... Avast there matey... Pieces of eight, pieces of eight... Dance a proper jig or walk the plank. Booty for all and plunder a'plenty. Shiver me timbers and boarders away... A r r r r ...

Click here for

Buccaneer Lore

Visit the

2008 Buccaneers' Ball

2007 Buccaneers' Ball

2006 Buccaneers' Ball

2005 Buccaneers' Ball

Message in a Bottle

Email to the Captain's Cabin

Allow us to state the obvious.

The real pirates of history were not nice people.

No one wants to recreate negative aspects of their behavior or activities in any actual or literal sense.

But after 300 years of time passage, the idea of a 17th or 18th century pirate has become a mere caricature, a light hearted bit of play acting which many have a good time with.

For us the idea of the Buccaneers' Ball is simply to "open things up a bit" with an unusual theme for our guests to enjoy and in which to exercise their creativity and imaginations.

Ahoy There! Read Our Ship's Standards.

We are grateful to our wonderful guests who make the effort with us to create a special ambience and atmosphere of respect. We uphold these standards out of regard for our much-appreciated friends and for the sake of the integrity of our events.

1. The use of either tobacco or alcohol is prohibited.

2. Videotaping is not welcome other than by our house videographer. We work hard to create a special and comfortable historic ambience that all will enjoy. Discreet photography is welcome but please leave video equipment at home.

3. No unauthorized distribution of literature is allowed. Nor is this event an opportunity to recruit persons for purposes either modern or historical. Please allow all of our guests to enjoy the evening in peace. That is why they came.

4. These are historic balls and we ask that even those dressed modern conform to certain historic standards. All clothed in modern attire must be at least at a semi-formal level. Modern gentlemen need to be wearing tuxes or suits. As per historic standards, jackets and ties need to be on at all times. Modern ladies should wear long gowns, preferably at or near ankle length - not short dresses or skirts and blouses. (Note: Section 4 is different for the Buccaneers' Ball! The usual requirements are waived. Instead, Historical, Nautical or Piratical attire is required, either historic reproduction attire or at least a modern attempt at looking piratical.)

5. Appropriate footwear is required. (i.e. historic footwear, dress shoes, dancing slippers, ballet flats, etc.) Please no sandals, flip-flops or athletic shoes. For the sake of your safety as well as event ambience dancing barefoot is impermissible.

6. We ask that one not enter to be an observer, chaperone or curiosity seeker without having a ticket and being properly attired.

7. Please either order advance tickets by the publicized cut-off date (in time to be mailed back to you) or be prepared to obtain your tickets at the door (if available) for a higher amount. These events are publicized far in advance in order to serve you well. They do sometimes fill up early.

8. We do not offer refunds or exchanges.

9. Our standard age policy is that ages 13 and up are welcome to participate and that ages 8-12 may participate if parents deem them to be sufficient in manners and maturity. The dress standards for these young ladies and gentlemen are the same as those for adults. (Please see #4 above.)

10. Gracious and respectful conduct & conversation are expected of all, to all and at all times.

11. We desire to be good stewards of the facilities we use, to treat them with care and to leave them in at least as good of condition as when we arrived.

12. For the good of all, any who might consider themselves exempt from any of the above may be asked to leave.

Please also see our “Etiquette & Expectations” page as well as our "All About Us" page.