intellectual-magazine-issue5

Trekking Around The Caribbean
Barbados
Historical
Museum
Photo Credit - The Intellectual
If ever you are in Barbados, and apart from
enjoying its beautiful coral beaches, and the
fishing village of Oistins, make sure and pay a
visit to the Barbados Historical Museum. It is located
at the Garrison on the southern end of the
island, and is housed in the former British Military
Prison. This historic area is a UNESCO world
heritage site. The upper section of the prison was
built in 1817 and the lower section in 1853. In
1930, this building became the headquarters of
the Barbados Museum and Historical Society.
Walking through the building itself,
which houses the displays is a wonderful sense
of going back in time. You start by exploring the
natural history display that describes the coral
structure of Barbados. The next rooms lead you
to the display of artefacts of the Amerindians who
were the early inhabitants in these islands. “Yesterday’s
Children” shows an educational travel
back into history that we also enjoyed as adults!
There is even a prisoner cell that you can explore
with shackles and all with the menu of the typical
meals served to different strata of prisoners.
It is truly like walking through time
crossing the courtyard, and seeing the water
pumps built into the wall and peeping into the
eighteenth century plantation house. A more
modern looking display is the room with the
rare collection of historical maps on the island.
The Caribbean islands are a lot more than sun,
sand and steel pan....discover its history in places
such as the Barbados Historical Museum.
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