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Ocean Portal by The Smithsonian Institution

History & Cultures

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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...

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...	Archaeological Site Map of Hare Harbor Sep 9 2011 - 3:33pm The Arctic Studies Center's excavation site map of Hare Harbor maps some of the community's excavated structures that archeologists have unearthed. An Inuit house, blacksmith shop, and cookhouse are among some of the excavated buildings on site. Learn more about what has been uncovered at Hare...
Rev. Harvey Buys a Giant Squid Jan 26 2010 - 11:46am In 1874, Reverend Moses Harvey of Newfoundland bought a dead giant squid caught by fishermen. More about the giant squid can be found in our Giant Squid featured story.	Pyle's "The Sacking of Panama" Jul 26 2010 - 3:23pm Pirates divide up the riches they plundered. Most pirates abided by their own codes of conduct, and life aboard pirate ships was more democratic than that on naval ships of the time. Watch a slide show about legendary pirates from the Golden Age of Pirates.
Morgan in Panama City Jul 6 2010 - 5:49pm Morgan’s most daring exploit was the capture and destruction of Panama City after a grueling march through the Central American jungle with 2,000 buccaneers. To survive, some of the buccaneers ate their leather satchels. Read about more pirates in the Pirates of the Golden Age slideshow.	Ceramic Pottery Recovered from Early Whaling Community Sep 9 2011 - 4:26pm Research at Hare Harbor in Quebec, Canada has revealed important clues about the connections between the Inuit peoples of Northern Canada and the Basque whalers of Spain and France.
Mermen? Sea Monks? Or Giant Squid? Jan 26 2010 - 11:46am People once thought giant squid (right) were Sea Monks, or mermen (left)—mythical creatures that were part fish-like and part human male. Learn more giant squid facts and legend in the Giant Squid section.	Inupiat Guardian Spirit Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am This ivory sculpture from Point Barrow, Alaska, represents Kikámigo, a guardian spirit, holding a whale in each hand.
The Trouvadore: A Story of Deliverance Feb 21 2010 - 4:12pm Join marine archeologists as they trace the history of the Trouvadore, a slave ship bound for Cuba that wrecked in the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1841, and the ship’s passengers unusual path to freedom.	Pirates Ply the Ocean Jul 23 2010 - 4:15pm The ocean was the world's highway, and ships brimming with precious cargoes plied the waters. These merchant ships were tempting targets for pirates, who prowled the seas' major trade routes in search of treasure. Ever since the first oceangoing ships set sail centuries ago, pirates have been...
Raven Spirit’s Journey Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am The Raven Spirit canoe would eventually travel more than 4,828 kilometers (3,000 miles) from Prince of Wales Island to Washington, D.C. More about raven spirit can be found in our Raven Spirit featured story.	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,...
From Sea to Shining Sea Jul 2 2010 - 6:01pm Happy (early) Independence Day! For many of us in the United States, the 4th of July is a time to celebrate and reflect on our national heritage. In many ways, the U.S. grew up on the water and remains a maritime nation to this day.	Fish Swim Around Shipwreck Mar 11 2013 - 7:27am Fish 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 United States Navy in 1941. In Spring 1942, the HMT Bedfordshire ...
Map of Juan Fernandez Island Jul 13 2010 - 5:35pm Dampier rescued Alexander Selkirk from Juan Fernandez island around 1708. Selkirk's story inspired Daniel Defoe to write Robinson Crusoe. Read a story by one of Selkirk's descendants in Smithsonian Magazine.	Portrait of Blackbeard Jul 7 2010 - 12:26pm Blackbeard may have been the most notorious pirate of all. Fierce and ferocious-looking, he stood 6’4” tall and had wild eyes and an explosive temper. To add to the effect, he tucked slow-burning cannon fuses under his hat. See some Blackbeard relics.