When Pirates Scoured the Treasure Coast

There are moments in history when the sea keeps secrets, and then there are moments when it gives them up in spectacular fashion.

In 1715, eleven Spanish galleons heavy with gold, silver, and unimaginable riches fought a violent hurricane off the Florida coast. By the time the storm passed, the fleet had vanished, along with nearly a thousand souls and a treasure valued at over $14 million.

What followed was not silence. It was opportunity.

Enter the pirates.

As the wreckage scattered along what we now call the Treasure Coast, infamous figures like Henry Jennings and Charles Vane set their sights on the lost fortune. Others, including Black Sam Bellamy, took a different approach, one that blurred the lines between piracy, survival, and strategy during the Golden Age of Piracy.

Join historian and author Allen Balogh for a gripping journey into this turbulent chapter of Florida’s past. Drawing from years of deep research, including rare archival work in Havana, Cuba, Balogh brings to life the human drama behind the legend, the storm, the survivors, and the pirates who came hunting.

Known for blending meticulous historical research with vivid storytelling, Balogh has written extensively on Spanish colonial history and piracy, appeared on PBS’s Rogue History, and earned induction into the International Pirate Hall of Fame.

This is more than a lecture. It is a voyage into the heart of one of the most dramatic events ever to shape our coastline.

Books will be available for purchase following the program.

ADMISSION:
$5 for Members | $18 for Non-Members
Includes museum admission. Valid Membership card required for member entry

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Host or Publisher The Historical Society of Martin County