Runs May 27 through July 23, free with museum admission, Brandywine River Museum, U.S. Route 1 and Creek Road, Chadds Ford, 610-388-2700

This might not be a fair assumption, but 19th-century sailors sound like the foulest bastards in history. They cursed like you-know-whats, cavorted with filthy dock hookers and probably had scurvy. Gross, right?

But here's a little-known fact: Many of these barnacle-scraping bilge bags actually had a soft side. They made valentines out of seashells and sent them to their sweethearts.

How effin' cute is that, right?

The Brandywine River Museum will present "Treasures From the Sea: Sailors' Valentines and Shellwork," an exhibit displaying some great examples of this long-lost art form. While Brandywine wants you to appreciate the "highly decorative qualities" of shellwork, we like it for another reason: It's funny to envision what these sailors yelled upon returning to home port and receiving gratitude booty. Blow me down!