A case exhibit of artifacts from the wreck Queen Anne's Revenge (QAR), Blackbeard's flagship, will be on display at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex through May 31.

The exhibit originated at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort, the official repository for the shipwreck artifacts, within the Division of State History Museums, N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

The artifacts displayed are examples of the variety found at the shipwreck. The exhibit includes iron shot for cannon, small caliber lead shot for firearms, a grinding stone used for sharpening tools and weapons, a small piece of gold, and several other items that were aboard Blackbeard's ship.

Exhibit panels offer information on Blackbeard, the QAR, the QAR project, underwater archaeology and the conservation of artifacts.

Originally, Queen Anne's Revenge was a slave ship called La Concorde, owned by a French merchant. Capable of carrying 516 slaves, Blackbeard captured La Concorde in November 1717. In June 1718, the frigate QAR and the sloop Adventure ran aground in what is now Beaufort Inlet.

This wreck was located in November 1996 by Intersal Inc. with information provided to Operations Director Mike Daniel by company president Phil Masters.

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, Office of State Archaeology, began underwater excavations at the site in 1997 and has led the research on this shipwreck.

The exhibit is open for viewing during the museum's regular operating hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 pm; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

Admission is free.

"Visitors are encouraged to 'Like' and check our Facebook page for dates and times regarding special events and programs that will coincide with the special exhibit," says a spokesman.

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex is located on the corner of Bradford and Arsenal avenues in Fayetteville,

For more information, call (910) 486-1330 or go to http://museumofthecapefear .ncdcr.gov.