Grenada & Carriacou / Special Interests / Museums

There is plenty of opportunity to draw back the curtain on the rich and turbulent history of Grenada and its sister island Carriacou. Both islands have their own stand-alone museums with exhibits dating from when Amerindians settled the islands, and memorabilia from colonial times and beyond. There are also museums attached to some of the islands’ attractions such as the Belmont Estate and Carib’s Leap on Grenada.

Grenada National Museum, St George’s - The Grenada museum is worth a visit. Set in an attractive building, brick with a wrought-iron balcony (actually the former women’s jail), on Young Street on the Carenage side of town, it has a run down of Grenadian life since the earliest times. Exhibits include Carib artefacts, a canoe, coral encrusted weaponry from early wrecks and a certain Father De Vas’s collections of stuffed birds and handbooks. Memorabilia of colonial rule and Independence include the original national standard weights used to calibrate people’s scales and relics from the Bianca C, a cruise ship that burned in the harbour. The Grenada Arts Council stages annual art exhibitions of local and resident artists – paintings, sculptures, together with the University of West Indies. Open Monday-Friday 9am-4.30pm, entrance fee (Mon-Fri) EC$2, children (3-10) EC$1. Donations are very welcome.

Belmont Estate Museum, St Patrick - The museum contains artefacts, tools, photographs and other memorabilia from the estate as well as personal effects from the Nyack family, owners of Belmont Estate. There are even games and musical numbers that visitors are encouraged to enjoy. Try The Pique, the Pound Stone, or perhaps some Kalinda (stick fighting). Or you can simply stroll around the lovely gardens.

Carib’s Leap - A museum has recently opened at this site - famous as the place where Amerindians threw themselves to their deaths rather than be captured and enslaved by European colonisers. It contains Amerindian artefacts, old French weapons and models of Carib life. Opening times unavailable at present, please book through Caribbean Horizons.

Carriacou

Carriacou Museum - Set in Hillsborough, a series of simple exhibits illuminating Carriacou life, including articles found on archaeological digs, old drums, canoes and artefacts from the time of slavery. One highlight is the Carib “well”, a series of sandstone pots that filters water. Open Monday-Friday, 9.30am-4pm.

Windward Boat Yard, Windward - There is a small nautical museum at this yard and boat-building academy that charts how the boat-building tradition started from the Scots who settled in this area of Carriacou in the early 19th Century.

Non-profit organisations and Government links:

Grenada National Museum, Young Street, St George’s, t 440 3725
Grenadamuseum@caribsurf.com