If you are interested in history, then Barbados is the place for you.
This small Caribbean island has been inhibited since the 1600's, and its capital Bridgetown was one of the main ports in the world along with London and Boston.
If you would like to visit some of the most historical places in Barbados, then we have compiled a comprehensive list of the must see places for the history buffs amongst you.
So in alphabetical order let us take you around Barbados and give you an idea of why these places are of historical importance and why they are well worth a visit:
Places of Historical Interest in Barbados
The Barbados Museum is located within the historic Garrison Savannah area, which is in the parish of St. Michael. The museum opened in 1933, in what was the old military prison to create a public record of Barbados' history.
The museum has seven main galleries and other additional rooms displaying over 270,000 artefacts covering the history and heritage of Barbados.
The first gallery is dedicated to Flora & Fauna covering reefs, shells, birds and green monkeys.
The second gallery focuses on history and prehistory, looking at Barbados' first inhabitants the Amerindians through slavery to emancipation and Independence. There is also a room for historic maps.
The third gallery is dedicated to Barbadian housing with a display on Chattel Houses, and three period rooms decorated as traditional rooms from a plantation house.
The fourth gallery is of old Barbadian prints and paintings. The fifth gallery looks at the military history of the island including an original prisoner's cell left in tact from the building's previous existence.
The sixth gallery is dedicated to Barbados' African heritage with a fine display of masks and musical instruments. The final gallery is for temporary exhibitions.
The Barbados Museum is a good starting place to learn about Barbados from a bygone era and is open Monday to Saturday from 9am until 5pm, and from 2pm until 6pm on Sundays. Twice a week they run an evening entitled '1627 and All That' featuring dancing and story telling. Please call (246) 427-0201 for further information.
You can also get further information by following the link "Sightseeing Listings' at the bottom of this page.
Barclays Park is located on the East Coast of Barbados in the parish of St. Joseph, just north of Bathsheba.
The area was purchased by Barclays Bank and donated to the people of Barbados to celebrate their Independence in 1966.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the park on her visit to Barbados in the same year. The park is an ideal spot for picnics and you can enjoy a relaxing day here appreciating the beauty of the rugged East coast.
Bush Hill House is located at the Garrison Savannah and since opening to the public in early 2007 it is now known as George Washington House.
George Washington was the first president of The United States of America, and he visited Barbados in 1751 and stayed at Bush Hill House.
During his two month stay on the island he contracted smallpox; this then gave him immunity and would later save his life during the Revolutionary War, where the troops were wiped out with the disease.
The house has undergone a major refurbishment programme and has been restored to its former glory, so visitors can see what the house looked like when George Washington stayed there.
The upstairs is a museum dedicated to his work and life, and his time in Barbados. There is also a genealogy section for visitors to see if they can trace their roots back to Barbados as so many Americans can.
For further information please follow the link below to an article about George Washington.
Bridgetown is one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean region, with continuous occupation now since the 1600's.
Its name is derived from Indian Bridge area, as it was known when the first English settlers arrived. The Amerindians then had built the wooden bridge that stood there across the Careenage area.
Bridgetown sits on the beautiful Carlisle Bay and has been developed now to house one of the largest ports for Cruise ships in the Caribbean region.
Bridgetown has some wonderful buildings, sadly though it has been destroyed by fire and hurricanes on numerous occasions so none of the existing buildings predate the last great fire in 1860.
In Bridgetown you will find the Barbadian Parliament Buildings, St. Michaels Cathedral, The Jewish Synagogue, Tyrol Cot, the Garrison Savannah area, Broad Street, Fairchild Street, Cheapside Market, Pelican Craft Centre, National Heroes Square, Queens Park, Chamberlain Bridge, Independence Arch, Charles Duncan O'Neal Bridge, and Kensington Oval.
For further information on these attractions please see the link below for a detailed look at Bridgetown and individual articles on these places.
So much of Barbados history is tied to slavery and eventually emancipation, therefore since 1985 there has been a bronze statue of a slave with broken chains on one of the island's main roundabouts on the ABC highway. This is known as the Bussa Roundabout.
Bussa was a free man born in Africa, then captured and brought to Barbados to work as a slave on Bayley's Plantation in St. Phillip. In 1816, nine years after the British Government banned the import of slaves from Africa to the Caribbean he led a revolt against the racist white sugar cane planters to fight for equality and a better life for black people on the island.
Bussa was actually killed in the rebellion but this uprising was noted as the largest in Barbadian history with over 400 slaves protesting. The bronze statue of him was erected to honour the freedom fighter that changed the future of Barbados for fellow black men, women and children.
Slavery was finally abolished in 1834. For further information please click on the link to read about the Barbados National Heroes.
Codrington College is located on the east coast of Barbados, just above Consett Bay. This historical college opened in 1748 at the wish of wealthy landowner Christopher Codrington who wanted a religious training centre built. To this day Codrington College is still a theological college of excellence teaching Anglican vicars to a first degree standard. The college is set in stunning grounds and well worth a wander around while you are in Barbados.
For further information please see the link at the bottom to the Codrington College page within TotallyBarbados.com.
You can also visit the Barbados Concorde Experience while in Barbados, as it is one of the few places in the world to house a Concorde aircraft. You can visit it at the recently opened Concorde Visitor Centre at Grantley Adams International Airport on the south coast of Barbados.
It has an interactive flight school, a departure lounge, an observation deck, and an in-flight experience multi media presentation. Visitors can learn about the history of flight and in particular supersonic flight. You can board the aircraft and experience what it must have been like to be a passenger traveling in luxury in record time!
The Concorde Visitor Centre is open seven days a week from 9am to 6pm. For further information please click on the link below to read the full article on the Barbados Concorde Experience.
The Crane Resort is located in St. Phillip on the southeast cost of the island. It was built in 1887, making it the first hotel in Barbados, and has undergone a major refurbishment in recent years and now combines old world charm with the modern luxuries of the 21st century.
It over looks Crane Beach, which is voted one of the top 10 beaches of the world, so we advise going to The Crane for afternoon tea, where you can sit on the veranda and take in the most beautiful view.
For further information please log on to www.thecrane.com.
Cricket is a national pass time in Barbados, which dates back to over 300 years of British occupation on the island. You will find a cricket match going on most days of the week, whether it is just some children playing in the street or a local cricket club match.
You can of course see some international matches held at the 3W's ground at the University of the West Indies or at the recently renovated Kensington Oval. The Cricket World Cup was held in the West Indies in April 2007 and Barbados was host to the final macth at Kensington Oval.
Barbados has produced some of the best known cricketers in the world such as Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Clyde Walcott, Seymour Nurse, Rev. Wes Hall, Charlie Griffith, Malcolm Marshall, Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge.
If Bajan's aren't playing cricket then you will find them watching it and if there isn't any cricket to watch then they will talk about it instead!
While visiting Barbados it is well worth a visit to Kensington Oval to fully appreciate the island's passion for cricket, seeing a match would be the best way to soak up the atmosphere, but if there are no matches scheduled during your stay then the ground itself is still worth a visit as it dates back to 1882.
For the history of the ground please see the link below to Kensington Oval.
The Crop Over Festival runs from May until August and during this time Barbados goes in to party mode as Crop Over season grabs the island. The African slaves created the festival as they celebrated the end of the cutting of the sugar cane with song and dance.
The start of the festival is marked with the Cavalcades, which show cases the Crop Over songs for the year with an outdoors event in each parish on the island. During the month of June the festival is opened up to younger Bajans as the Junior Calypso Tent performs.
There is also a Thanksgiving Service for the crop and the official opening Gala for the festival takes place in July. During July there is the Pic-O-De Crop competition, where singers are judged on the songs of this year's special Crop Over songs.
There is also a crowning ceremony of the Party Monarch as Calypsonians battle it out to be the best.
The first weekend in August is the grand finale of the festival with Foreday Morning where Bajans jump up covered in mud; this starts at 2am and is an all night party that makes its way to Bridgetown market to spend the day.
On the Sunday evening is Cohobblopot held at the National Stadium which features dancing and soca music.
Then on the Monday is Grand Kadooment, a daytime procession of spectacular outfits and dancing from the National Stadium to Spring Garden Highway.
For all the diary dates of the Crop Over please see the link below.
Farley Hill National Park is located in St. Peter to the north of the island. There was once a very grand mansion house, which was built in 1857 and restored in 1956. This beautiful old plantation house was the setting for the film 'Island in the Sun' but shortly after the film was released the house burned down and in 1965 the government purchased the land.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II came to celebrate independence in 1966 and she then officially opened the grounds as a national park. The ruins of the great house provide a beautiful backdrop to this quiet and tranquil setting.
Fort Charles is one of the earliest forts in Barbados, dating back to around 1660. It is located at Needham's Point on the south coast of the island.
The fort itself is long gone but its walls are incorporated in the recently opened Hilton Hotel on the same spot.
Francia Plantation House is located in St. George and is one of the last great houses in Barbados. It was built in the late 1800's and houses a unique collection of antique maps of Barbados and the Caribbean region dating back to the 1600's.
There are some unusual features in its design not seen anywhere else in Barbados and it is set in beautiful grounds. There is also a private school called Providence now located there as well.
For further information please see the link below to a detailed page about Francia Plantation House.
The Garrison Savannah is located in the south coast main road and is clearly visible from the road. These days the area is best known as the home of the Barbados Turf Club.
A day out here watching horse racing is a wonderful experience, so please check our Barbados Events Calendar for dates of the next meeting.
Historically, the Garrison Savannah was the military home of the British army since the 1600's when Barbados was a rich British colony that needed protection from invasion.
The area is full of grand military buildings and home to the Barbados Museum. The Savannah, which is the huge grassy area in the middle is used as a parade ground for special events and is lovely for an early evening walk as the sun goes down.
Grenade Hall Signal Station is located in the north of the island in St. Peter. There were signal stations across Barbados to let the military at the Garrison know of any trouble breaking out at plantations across the island. Here you can see for miles and there are exhibits left by soldiers from years gone by.
Gun Hill is another of the signal stations, which is located in St. George; again it affords spectacular views across the sugar plantations of the St. George valley that sweeps down to the sea on the south coast.
There are many exhibits here detailing the history of the military in Barbados and there is also a craved white lion left by soldiers from the 1800's.
For further information about the signal stations in Barbados please see the link at the bottom of this page.
Harrismith Great House is located in the parish of St. Phillip on the East coast, just above Sam Lord's Castle. The house is now a ruin of what used to be a hotel but the structure is still sound enough to walk around.
Here you look down over the cliff at the crashing waves of the Atlantic and the white sandy beach and imagine what a picturesque place this must have been to stay.
Holders House is located in St. James on the west coast. This great 17th century plantation house is home to the Kidd family and is set in beautiful grounds. The grounds are also home to Holder's Polo field and every March the grounds are transformed to provide an outdoor venue for Holder's Season.
Holder's Season brings performers from all over the world to stage drama from London's West End and New York's Broadway. There are musical performances and comedy.
For further information log onto www.holders.net or see our link below about the Holder's Festival.
Holetown is located on the west coast in the parish of St. James. It was where the first group of English settlers arrived in Barbados in 1627 and they named it Jamestown after the king of that time.
It is a historic town and worth a stroll around to see the monuments public buildings and churches. Each year in February there is a week of activities to celebrate the town's heritage called the Holetown Festival.
For further information please see our link below to read about the attractions at the Holetown Festival or you can log on to www.holetownfestivalbarbados.com.
Morgan Lewis Mill is located in St. Peter in the north of the island and is the only working windmill left in Barbados. The Barbados National Trust, who has created an exhibition of the sugar industry, has restored it and they demonstrate how the mill used to crush sugar cane.
For further information please see the link below.
National Heroes Square is located in Bridgetown next to the Chamberlain Bridge. It was formerly known as Trafalgar Square as it is home to Barbados' own Nelson's column.
There is also a cenotaph to commemorate those who lost their lives in World War One and Two. Here you will find the Dolphin Fountain to celebrate piped water in to Bridgetown and in January of this year the Square underwent a complete renovation to include a new statue of National Hero Errol Barrow.
Oistins is another one of Barbados' historic towns; it is located on the south coast in the parish of Christ Church.
This town has been home to many of the island's fisherman and takes its place in the history books as it saw a battle between the Roundheads and the Royalists in 1639, from this battle the Barbados Government was formed when the Articles of Agreement were drawn up at the Mermaid Tavern.
At Easter time the town comes alive with the Oistins Fish Festival, which celebrates fishing and the skills of fisherman with music, fresh fish, competitions and stalls. For further information please see the link at the bottom of this page.
The Parliament Buildings are located in Bridgetown by the Chamberlain Bridge.
This is home to the Barbadian Government, which has been in existence since 1639 making it the third oldest in the Commonwealth. However this building wasn't built until 1874.
For further information please see the link to the history of the Barbadian Parliament below.
Portvale Sugar Museum is located in St. James on the west coast just above Holetown. The museum was the creation of Frank Hutton a former sugar worker who collected machinery and gave a clear history of sugar production in Barbados. The museum is a proud tribute to Barbadian history, which has been producing sugar since the 1600's.
Queens Park House is located in Queens Park in Bridgetown. This Georgian mansion was once the home of the Commander of the British armed forces in Barbados.
The house was built in 1783 and is open daily from 10am until 1pm and 2pm until 6pm and is free to enter. These days it houses an art gallery and is in the pleasant surroundings of Queens Park.
Rum is an integral part of Barbadian life, and is still drunk today as much as was back in the 1600's when sugar was first produced on the island.
Again the production of rum has a long history like that of sugar, and whilst in Barbados, not only is it a must to try some local rum, but also you really should tour one of the rum factories.
All of these will give you a guided tour explaining how rum is produced along with exhibits of rum production from centuries ago. Please see the section on Sightseeing for more information.
Sam Lords Castle is located on the south east coast in the parish of St. Phillip. It was home to Sam Lord who built the mansion in 1821. Up until recently the castle was incorporated in to the complex of a large hotel; however this closed its doors a couple of years ago and is still tied up in a legal dispute.
Hopefully this will be reopened to the public in the future as this house has so much history attached to it.
Sam Lord had the reputation of being a land pirate, it is rumoured that he would light up the castle and the shoreline making ships believe that they had reached the port of Bridgetown, but as they made their way in land they would hit a large reef that runs off this coast.
It is then reported that Sam Lord and his men would dive off and loot the shipwrecks. It is also believed that all of Sam Lord's treasure is buried somewhere within the grounds of his castle.
St. Nicholas Abbey is located in St. Lucy in the north of the island. It was built during the 1650's making it one of the oldest houses in the world, there are only two other houses in existence of this age, one is also in Barbados - Drax Hall and the other in Virginia, USA.
Only the downstairs rooms are open for viewing as the upstairs rooms are still used by the private owners. You can also watch a 20-minute film made in the 1930's by the owners of that time, who filmed their voyage from England by sea to their West Indian home.
St. Nicholas Abbey is open to the public Monday to Friday from 10am until 3.30pm and the entry fee is $10BDS. For further information please see the link below to our detailed history of St. Nicholas Abbey.
Sunbury Plantation House is located in St. Phillip on the south east coast. It was built around 1750, but only the original walls remain as the house was devastated by fire in 1995.
However it was lovingly restored and you can see pictures of the house before, during and after the restoration. The entire house is open to the public daily from 10am until 5pm.
Here you will see the largest collection of horse drawn buggies in the Caribbean region. For further information please see our link below to Sunbury Plantation House. You can also call (246) 423-6270.
Tyrol Cot is located just outside Bridgetown and is of historical importance as it was home to Sir Grantley Adams, first prime minister of Barbados and birth place to his son Tom Adams who also went on to become prime minister of Barbados.
The house was built in 1854 and now houses the family's memorabilia of both men's political careers. Tyrol Cot is open Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm and the entry fee is $11.50BDS. For further information please see the link below to our article about Tyrol Cot.
Villa Nova is located on the east coast in the parish of St. John. It was built in 1833 after the original house was destroyed by a hurricane in 1831.
British Prime Minister Anthony Eden once owned the house during the 1960's and here he entertained Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her 1966 tour of the island.
The house was converted into a luxury boutique hotel in 2001 but ran in to financial difficulty and was handed over to the receivers. A buyer was found in 2006 but as yet plans for its future have not been revealed.
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