Ralph Buckland was quite an individual -- he was a lawyer, Civil War General, politician, businessman, and more. He accomplished quite a bit in his lifetime; all while maintaining a reputation of honor and dignity. I'm looking forward to bringing his life to the attention of our museum visitors.

I'm really looking forward to this season. We have a few exciting projects in the works.

Pirates who were hired by many countries, especially in times of war, were businessmen and capitalists of every background searching for a profit in the Atlantic Ocean. Governments armed pirates' ships and directed the pirates to attack ships of other warring countries. America even hired its own pirates to disrupt British trade ships during the War of Independence.

This 33-year period, which includes the Tripolitan War (1801-05) and the Algerine War (1815-16), is an important aspect of history that people often overlook.

We are in for a bidding war.

The hurricane dominated the conversation and the war is no longer on the front burner,