Edward Teach (AKA Blackbeard, Edward Thatch, Edward Drummond) Edward Teach was born in Bristol, England. He served the crown raiding the French and Spanish during the War of Spanish Succession (1702–1713), then enlisted with Benjamin Hornigold in 1716 to plunder ships in the Caribbean. Toward the end of the year, they seized a large, well-built…
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Once a small crowd of tourists has gathered, the guide begins the talk: We’re very proud to have the Legend here. It was discovered off the coast of North Carolina three years ago, dismantled underwater, and rebuilt in dry-dock. The North Carolina Nautical Museum has graciously lent the ship to us for this exhibit. As…
View About The Legend »Someone’s obviously put a great deal of time and money into restoring the ship. But all that renovation clearly leaves little chance of your finding anything hidden. Just to be safe, you poke, prod, and pry every drawer, bookshelf, and widget onboard—to no avail. You decide to quit wasting time before they ask you to…
View Wandering the Legend »Solve these puzzles and you may find the long-lost treasure of Blackbeard the pirate.
View The Search for Blackbeard’s Treasure »Breathless with anticipation, you dial the number Karen Blixen left. To your dismay, you don’t get a human. It’s another of those damned menu systems: Thank you for calling Bethesda Lawyers, located in Offices 1 through 5 of the Civic Center Tower. If you know the extension of the party you are calling, you may…
View Bethesda Lawyers »With your help, the police quickly arrest the thief, and all the stolen items are returned. The library director presents you with a small reward, which you happily accept. Back at the library, you ask to see any paintings the Gordons may have donated along with the house. The director shows you four or five…
View The Two Dials »Ballpeen’s mansion is an impressive neo-Georgian edifice that looks bigger than your old college. When you press the doorbell, a sonorous gong reverberates that you expect to summon a butler. Instead, the mail slot pops open, through which you hear a thin voice. I’m sorry I can’t let you in right now. The sad truth…
View Armand Ballpeen’s Mansion »Arriving at 38° 59′ 19″ North, 77° 5′ 49″ West, you stare at the memorial to Bethesda’s victims of war in the center of Woodmont Triangle. How can you possibly get a permit to dig up the park? Just then, you feel a tug on your sleeve. Turning, you behold an elderly man in shabby…
View The Griot of Woodmont Triangle »When you tell the Griot you want to learn about June 19, 1718, he closes his eyes for a moment and considers. Then he speaks slowly: Ah, yes. The man you speak of must be the one we call The Digging Man. He did arrive here on the day you name with eight other men….
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A Department of Parks official stands amid the wreckage of the ancient tree. This last storm was just too much for it. It’s a shame. Everyone will miss this tree. I’m trying to save the carvings at least—the rest will be hauled off as waste. The official has sorted many of the carvings by date….
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