History of The Treasure Ship
Construction of The Treasure Ship began in 1977, opening for her maiden voyage (first season) in 1978. The Treasure Ship was built by Mr. and Mrs. William Nomberg and designed by architect Phillip Spann, all of Dothan, Alabama. She was built to scale to replicate The Golden Hind, a galleon ship sailed by Sir Frances Drake. The Treasure Ship is a little more than twice the size of the Golden Hind, and of course, never floated, contrary to urban legend.
Live pirates roam the decks, reminiscent of the Renaissance Era, specifically the Elizabethan Times, so named after Queen Elizabeth I, Queen of England. The Golden Hind, originally named The Pelican, was one of the galleons commissioned by Queen Elizabeth for the purpose of exploration and bringing Christianity to the “heathens” of the New World. While commonly touted as an expert seaman and explorer, Sir Francis Drake, along with Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Richard Hawkins, Sir Martin Frobisher and others earned the reputation of being a pirate. A pirate defined as being one whom robbed and pillaged at sea, without sanction of government. While Drakes commission was for English exploration, he saw no reason not to rob and pillage Spanish galleons and bring riches back to the queen. Queen Elizabeth, although publicly opposed, turned a blind eye to this practice, hence, the famous Elizabethan Pirates and The Golden Age of Pirates.
The Golden Age of Pirates, the lifestyle, clothing, way of life, were well portrayed in parts of Disney’s ‘Pirates of the Caribbean”. Interestingly enough, the Caribbean basin was a second home to the Elizabethan Pirates. Sir Francis Drake was the first to pass from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast of South America. It was during this same era Amerigo Vespucci and Christopher Columbus shared in the discovery of the American continent, William Shakespeare entertained with his famous plays, Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigated the world and Ponce de Leon discovered Florida while searching for the Fountain of Youth.
Sir Francis Drake, knighted by Queen Elizabeth I on the deck of his ship, The Golden Hind, died of a tropical disease they called “Bloody Flux” on January 28, 1596. This tropical disease was probably Yellow Fever. The 55 year-old Drake was buried at sea in a lead coffin.
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