PIRATES, puritans and Pocahontas are the stars of the latest exhibition at Bristol's British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, where you can follow in the footsteps of Sir Walter Raleigh and learn about the new world of the 17th century Americas.

Visitors can see the ship, save themselves from sharks and take part in a treasure trail with the help of Pete the one-eyed pirate.

You can track animal prints, sit around the campfire in a tepee and experience singing and dancing Native American-style.

The Pow Wow display, designed by the makers of the Wallace and Gromit film sets, offers youngsters to learn more about history in a hands-on fun way and parents might learn something too.

Pow Wow is the latest special display and the 16-gallery museum is very much designed with children in mind. Film, photographs, computers and puzzles are all used to make learning more about the world fun.

You can sample exotic spices, learn Morse code, dress up in period clothes and play computer games. The museum, formerly the Brunel Railway Station, houses exhibitions charting the history of the British Empire, from the days of exploration and plunder to the shift from empire to commonwealth.

To celebrate Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 200th birthday this year the museum will be holding a special Victorian Fair throughout April, presenting the characters, stalls and showmen of a bygone era, complete with Punch and Judy.

From April 8 visitors will have the chance to explore the world's oldest surviving purpose-built railway terminus as Brunel's historic railway building is opened up to the public for the first time since its restoration.

Bristol's original station, completed in 1841, was regarded as a wonder of the Victorian age.

Next to the current main station at Temple Meads, the world's oldest surviving purpose-built railway terminus closed in 1965 and is now home to the museum.