out and about in bermuda …

It is hardly less famous for colorful flora and gardens and spectacularly sited, world-class golf courses.  However, the island is also increasingly being recognized as a locale rich in historical treasures that illuminate the origins and development of the English-speaking New World.  This trend is evidenced most dramatically by UNESCO’s recent designation of the eighteenth-century town of St. George as a world heritage site.  Listed below are attractions in the old town and elsewhere that you may want to take time to explore during your stay in Bermuda.  (Please note that most operations in Bermuda are closed on public holidays unless otherwise indicated.)

THE OLD TOWN OF ST. GEORGE
AND ITS ENVIRONS…
St. George’s is where it all began, when in July 1609 the Sea Venture—en route from England to the new colony of Jamestown Virginia—encountered a violent storm and was shipwrecked on Bermuda’s reefs less than a mile off what is now St. Catherine’s Point.  Miraculously, all on board survived the disaster and swam ashore to Gates Bay, located at the eastern end of St. George’s not far from the channel where modern cruise ships enter the town’s snug harbor today.  However, Bermuda’s first arrivals encountered a very different place from the placid eighteenth-century town that welcomes today’s visitor.  The stalwart English men and women of the Sea Venture found an uninhabited world populated only by birds, skinks and wild hogs (whose ancestors had probably washed ashore from other shipwrecks).  Determined to continue on to their original destination, these seventeenth-century survivors soon set about building two new ships, the Patience and the Deliverance and in May 1910 all but two deserters again set sail for struggling Jamestown, once more under the command of their original leader, Admiral Sir George Somers.  Two years later, after word of the island’s temperate climate and fruitful soil had reached home, a new ship—aptly called the Plough—was sent out from England and it was then that true settlement of Bermuda began. (top)

THE DELIVERANCE, Ordnance Island, St. George’s
A full-scale replica of the Deliverance, one of the two vessels that transported Sea Venture survivors on to Virginia in 1610, is prominently displayed on Ordnance Island across from King’s Square, the heart of historic St. George’s.  At certain times the replica can be boarded, an experience that enables modern day jet travelers to feel the cramped conditions endured by passengers on the original Deliverance, which was constructed of pieces salvaged from the Sea Venture and from native Bermuda cedar.  (Appropriately, Ordnance Island, once a site where hangings took place, is the place in St. George’s to book current, more comfortable water tours.)  Not far from the replica of the Deliverance, a life-size statute by contemporary local artist Desmond Fountain commemorates Sir George Somers, the expedition’s commander-in-chief and founder of Bermuda.  For information on the Deliverance, telephone (441) 297-1459. (top)  

KING’S SQUARE
The official, ceremonial centre of St. George’s, King’s Square—which is also known as Market Square—acquired its dignified name in 1818 when then mayor of the town, John Van Norden, named it in honor of George III, the British monarch who reigned during the American Revolution.  Today the square is dominated by the  Town Hall on its eastern end and surrounded by shops, restaurants and a bank, reminders that St. George’s is a “living town” that has been thriving for centuries.  Every Wednesday and Saturday at noon all year round and also in May through September on Tuesdays at 7pm and Thursdays at noon it is the past that comes to the fore as the town crier, colorfully decked out in tunic, breeches and tricorn hat, rings his bell and shouts “Oyez! Oyez!”  (Hear Ye!).  This is to convene his `tribunal,’ which will mete seventeenth-century justice to a variety of petty offenders who will be assigned to the stocks, pillory and ducking stool standing nearby.  By all means try out the stocks for yourself.  This is a fun photo opportunity. (top)

TUCKER HOUSE, Water Street
The only museum in St. George’s furnished as a period residence, Tucker House offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of a prosperous eighteenth-century Bermudian merchant.  Built around 1752 with living space above and an area for storing merchandise below, it was at one point home to Henry Tucker, who served as President of the Governor’s Council from 1775 to 1807.  Tucker family treasures are in evidence throughout the house and in addition to antique English and Bermudian furniture in mahogany and cedar include silver, quilts and fine family portraits by Joseph Blackburn, whose work can be seen in several important U.S. museums on the East Coast.  Joseph Hayne Rainey, a free black man who worked as a barber in Bermuda before going on to become the first black representative in the U.S. Congress, may have rented the then detached kitchen during the Civil War and is the subject of a commemorative exhibit in that room.  Tucker House cellars, once brimming with merchant goods, now house an archaeological exhibit that provides fascinating documentation of the daily lives of the building’s occupants over the centuries.  A Bermuda National Trust property, Tucker House is open Mon-Sat 10am-4pm. Admission $5. Tel. (441) 297-0545 (top)

BERMUDA NATIONAL TRUST MUSEUM, Globe Hotel, King’s Square
The building across the street from St. Peter’s on the edge of King’s Square is distinctive for both its unusual double chimneys and particularly colorful past!  Built in 1700 by Governor Samuel Day and owned by various members of the Tucker family throughout much of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, its upper floor was occupied by a Confederate Shipping Agent during the American Civil War.  From there, in close proximity to St. George’s Harbour, the agent organized the shipment of arms, uniforms and war supplies through the Union blockade to the South.  After the war, in 1867, the dwelling became the Globe Hotel and continued to operate as such into the twentieth century.  Open Mon-Sat 10am-4pm. Admission $5. Tel. (441) 297-1423. (top)

ST. PETER’S CHURCH, Duke of York Street
St. Peter’s Church, situated in appropriate loftiness above the main street of St. George’s, is one of the island’s most beloved landmarks and stands on the oldest continuously occupied church site in the New World.  The first church on the site was constructed in 1612, the year settlers arrived from England on the Plough.  Built of native cedar posts and fitted with small windows and a thatched roof this original edifice was replaced seven years later, in 1619, by a more permanent structure that lasted almost a hundred years, until the hurricane of 1712.  Following this disaster, the church was again rebuilt and, utilizing salvaged materials such as cedar beams, completed by 1713.  During the next one hundred and fifty years this early eighteenth-century structure was augmented by additions, fittings and furniture that make St. Peter’s the culturally rich trove it is today.  In addition to outstanding cedar work, the church’s treasures include the St. George Chalice (dated 1625-26), commemorative silver and `Hog’ money found beneath the floorboards during restoration.  Outside, memorial tablets and gravestones tell their own silent historical narrative.  Open daily 10am-5pm. Anglican service 11am Sundays. (top)

THE OLD RECTORY, Broad Alley, St. George’s, behind St. Peter’s Church
Built in 1699, this charming cottage on one of the numerous picturesque back streets in St. George’s is one of Bermuda’s oldest houses and may originally have had a thatched roof.  Acquired in 1700 by Captain George Dew, an unsuccessful privateer who became a St. George’s assemblyman, The Old Rectory, which was never officially associated with St. Peter’s, acquired its current name when it became the residence of the Rev. Alexander Richardson in the last quarter of the eighteenth century.  Now a Bermuda National Trust property, the house is open Wednesdays, 12-5pm, Nov-Mar only. (top)

ST. GEORGE’S HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM, Duke of Kent Street and Featherbed Alley
Built around 1734 as a private residence, Mitchell House—with its long roof, ground level storage area and distinctive `welcoming arm’ stairs—is a fine example of eighteenth-century Bermudian domestic architecture.  A building whose interesting history includes service as a tavern, Mitchell House has been home to the St. George’s Historical Society since 1920.  Among the museum’s many attractions are a replica kitchen furnished with everyday items of the past and numerous artifacts of specific relevance to the history of St. George’s.  These include portraits of important early residents of the town, paintings of the island by the British Victorian artist Edward James, early nineteenth-century, locally embroidered samplers and a rare seventeenth-century breeches bible.  Open 10am-4pm Mon-Fri from April through mid-November.  Open 11am-4pm on Wednesdays only from January through March.  To arrange off-season tours call (441) 297-0715.  Adults $5, children $2. (top)

TOWN HALL AND THE STATE HOUSE
Town Hall, the handsome building commanding King’s Square and bearing the town crest was begun in 1802, a few years after the Corporation of St. George’s was founded in 1797.  (The Cor-poration held its first meeting in the building in 1805.)  Over the years, Town Hall—originally a plainer structure with no exterior staircase or pedimented entrance—has entertained numerous uses, including a downstairs market!  Today, the restored building’s second story hosts public meetings, while its first floor houses portraits of nineteenth and twentieth century mayors of the town.  The State House, located up a gentle elevation behind Town Hall, is one of the island’s oldest, most historically important and unique buildings.  Erected around 1620 by Governor Nathaniel Butler, it was where the House of Assembly and Supreme Court held session before Hamilton became Bermuda’s capital in 1815.  Shortly after that fateful event, in 1816, Governor James Cockburn leased the State House to the Masonic Lodge of St. George’s, which, in a spectacular ritual held every spring in King’s Square, continues to pay an annual rent of one peppercorn for its use.  0pen to the public 10am-4pm on Wednesdays only. (top)

THE UNFINISHED CHURCH, Duke of Kent Street, St. George’s
The impressive Gothic vestige that looms over the town of St. George’s was begun in 1870 as a replacement for St. Peter’s, which had fallen into a state of serious disrepair.  Designed by William Hay, the Scottish-born architect who later drew the plans for Hamilton’s cathedral, the St. George’s church was abandoned in 1899 when near completion, perhaps in part because funds were diverted to rebuild Hamilton’s fire-ravaged cathedral.  Erected on what were formerly the grounds of the governor’s house, the St. George’s cathedral subsequently became a picturesque ruin and, before safety became a concern, a popular locale for plays and concerts.  Recently its ongoing deterioration was stemmed and its walls stabilized through the efforts of the Bermuda National Trust. (top)

FORT ST. CATHERINE, St. Catherine’s Point, St. George’s
Fort St. Catherine, the only one of Bermuda’s numerous forts to be named after a saint, stands on the site of one of the four towers that Governor Richard Moore erected along Bermuda’s coast around 1613, or during the first year of his tenure here.  None of these original towers, the first English forts in the New World, survive.  Rebuilt in the eighteenth century and altered again at the end of that century, the present, completely restored structure dates from the mid-nineteenth century and is home to fascinating exhibits: an historical diorama, guns and weapons and replicas of the Crown Jewels guarded by a wax Beefeater.  You may even encounter “George,” the resident ghost!  Outside, enjoy the views from the gun mounts.  Open daily 10-4:30pm with last admission at 4pm.  Closed Christmas Day.  Adults $5, children $2.  Tel (441) 297-1920. (top)

THE EASTERN PARISHES…

CARTER HOUSE, Southside Road, St. David’s
An example of early vernacular architecture, Carter House was probably built in the 1720s by John Hayward and his wife Martha, reputedly a descendant of Christopher Carter, one of the two Sea Venture survivors who stayed behind when the vessel’s other passengers continued on to Virginia in 1610.  Carter House is situated on land the U.S. Government acquired for a military base in 1941 and has been preserved thanks to the efforts of successive members of the Officers Wives Club.  Acquired by the newly formed St. David’s Historical Society after the base closed in 1995, this small house with its unusual ‘welcoming arm’ stairs has been converted into a museum that commemorates the pre-war agrarian traditions of St. David’s.  A work in progress, it will eventually be surrounded by endemic plantings and such famous local produce as Bermuda onions and Easter lilies. Open Saturdays from10am-4pm. (top)

ST. DAVID’S LIGHTHOUSE, Mount Hill, St. David’s (St. George’s Parish)
Constructed of Bermuda stone, this 55-foot structure is one of two local lighthouses.  Lit for the first time in 1879, its fixed white light enabled navigators to take cross bearings with the flashing beacon emitted by Gibbs Hill lighthouse way up the coast in Southampton.  From the balcony of St. David’s Lighthouse, some 208 feet above sea level, the visitor can enjoy panoramic views of the entire island.  While in St. David’s visit the cliffs and cannons of nearby Great Head Park and the pristine beaches on adjacent Cooper’s Island. (top) 

CRYSTAL & FANTASY CAVES Wilkinson Avenue, Bailey’s Bay
Two young boys discovered this magical underground world comprising stalactites, stalagmites and a clear, fifty-five foot deep lake by accident in 1905.  Subsequently it has become a leading attraction for visitors who can now also visit a nearby sister site, Fantasy Cave.  A café and a gift shop are also located on the premises.  Crystal Caves, which is on the bus route between Hamilton and St. George’s, is open seven days a week except on public holidays that occur during the winter months. Admission to one cave is $14 adults and $8 children.  Admission to the two caves is $20 adults and $10 children.  Children under five enter free. Tel. (441) 293-0640. (top) 

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, Trinity Church Road, Bailey’s Bay
Picturesquely sited off the main thoroughfare and accessible from either the North Shore or Harrington Sound roads, this lovely church is worth a detour.  Its original structure, erected in 1623 and topped by a palmetto-thatched roof, provided the core of a building that has evolved over three hundred and fifty years.  Enjoy the old roses and views of peaceful Harrington Sound.  Anglican service held on Sundays. (top)

THE BERMUDA AQUARIUM AND ZOO, Flatts Village
A presence in picturesque Flatts Inlet since 1928, this ever-evolving educational institution has over the years become one of the island’s leading destinations for tourists and residents alike.  It is a must-see for anyone with children.  The museum’s numerous displays include tanks of local fish, a North Rock exhibit—a 140,000-gallon replica of a living reef—an Islands of Australasia and Carribean exhibit.  In addition, a discovery room for children includes a Touch Tank. Open daily 9-5pm except Christmas Day.  Last admission is 4 pm.  Adults & Children over 12 - $10.  Children under 12 years and Seniors - $5. Children under 5 years.  Wheelchair available for hire. Call to reserve.  Tel.  (441) 293-2727. (top)

DEVIL'S HOLE AQUARIUM, Smith’s Parish
Since 1830, visitors have been coming to this collapsed cave where underground passages from the sea have created a deep pool. Since 1834, this cave has been used as a natural aquarium, it contains a wide variety of sea-life including sharks, giant groupers, moray eels and huge green turtles. The Devil’s Hole Aquarium allows you to become a fisherman and enjoy as the captive fish and turtles feed off baited, but hookless lines. Watch as they seize the bait and hang on almost until they are raised to the bridge. Tel: 293-2072, 92 Harrington Sound Road, Smith’s, email: wendell.pond@ibl.bm     (top)

VERDMONT MUSEUM, Collector’s Hill, Smith’s Parish
Erected around 1710 and enjoying spectacular views of the island’s South Shore, this historic house has remained virtually unchanged structurally since it was built—a rare happenstance in Bermuda.  A Bermuda National Trust showcase, it is home to an outstanding collection of antique Bermuda cedar furniture as well as important Bermuda portraits.  One room is furnished as a nursery and contains an array of children’s items from bygone times.  The attic houses a replica of Verdmont that is accurate down to its furnishings!  The period garden features plants known to have been cultivated in Bermuda in the eighteenth century.  Open Tues-Sat. 10-4 pm.  Accessible from Hamilton or St. George’s on the No.1 bus.  (Check bus schedule for times.)  For additional information telephone (441) 236-7369. Admission $5. (top)

OLD DEVONSHIRE CHURCH, Middle Road, Devonshire
Another of the many lovely churches that grace every parish in Bermuda, the Old Devonshire Church stands on ground that has been in continuous use as an ecclesiastical site since the 1660s.  Erected in 1715, after the earlier Parish House of Worship blew down in a hurricane, the church has a simplicity that evokes the spirit of Bermuda’s early vernacular architecture and like numerous of the island’s older stone dwellings it also evidences shipbuilding techniques and details.  Bermuda’s oldest piece of church silver—dated 1590 and engraved with the Tudor Rose—resides inside along with a Bermuda cedar altar screen.  The latter, carved with hearts and fleur de lys that symbolize love and purity, infuses the air with the indicative aromatic scent of Bermuda’s native wood. (top)

THE CITY OF HAMILTON
AND ITS ENVIRONS

FORT HAMILTON, Happy Valley Road in Pembroke on the outskirts of Hamilton
A sentinel that has been protectively overseeing Hamilton Harbour since 1889, Fort Hamilton with its moat gardens, green lawns, musty dungeons and never-tried artillery is worth a visit.  With spectacular views of Hamilton Harbour and the Great Sound beyond it, it is a great place to pause and have a picnic.  Open daily 9am-5pm. Admission is free. (top)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Langton Hill, Pembroke
This imposing structure, which authoritatively surmounts a hill on the northern outskirts of the City of Hamilton, is the official residence of Bermuda’s governor, who represents H.M. Queen Elizabeth II on the island and is appointed to a four-year term of office by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.  Completed in 1892, Government House was designed by Scottish architect William Hay, whose best-known legacy to Bermuda is the nearby Anglican cathedral in Hamilton.  The surrounding grounds are populated by trees planted by dignitaries and heads of state—including Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy—who have visited the island in the hundred plus years that have elapsed since Government House was built.  For security reasons, Government House and its grounds are accessible only through invitation, which is usually issued in association with a special event or public function. (top)

THE BERMUDA CATHEDRAL, Church Street, Hamilton
Bermuda’s very own Gothic cathedral, the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, was constructed after its predecessor on the site was destroyed by fire in January 1884.  Consecrated in 1911, the new church, which `grew’ in stages like most cathedrals, was designed in the mid-1880s by William Hay.  This Scottish-born architect, who also designed Government House and the “unfinished church” in St. George’s, was a pupil of the renowned Victorian architect Sir Gilbert Scott, whose most famous Gothic monument is the Prince Albert Memorial across from the Royal Albert Hall in London. 
  The Bermuda Cathedral interior features Gothic arches, a locally carved reredos or altar screen, an altar mosaic, a lady chapel, a warrior chapel and handsome stained glass windows.  The winding tower steps lead up to a spectacular view of the city.  Open weekdays 10am-3:30 pm. Tower admission: Adults $3. Seniors & students: $2. Anglican services on Sundays at 8am, 9:30am and 11am.  For further information call (441) 292-4033. (top)

THE SESSIONS HOUSE, Parliament Street, Hamilton
Magisterially situated atop the highest ground in the city not far from the Hamilton Cathedral, the Sessions House is where Bermuda legislates its affairs.  A simple, four-square Georgian structure when erected in the first quarter of the nineteenth century, the Sessions House was embellished on its southern, ceremonial front during the Victorian era to coincide with Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887.  William Hay, who drew the plans for the nearby cathedral, may have had a hand in planning adornments that include towers, arches and polychrome details.  The Supreme Court convenes on the ground floor while the House of Assembly meets upstairs.  There, in true Westminster fashion, the bewigged Speaker of the House presides over the lively, sometimes raucous, debates that underpin our democratic freedoms.  Visitors may observe the proceedings from a public gallery.  The house sits at 10am on Fridays from November until it concludes its business, usually by July.  For additional information call (441) 292-7408 or (441)292-1350 for court times. (top)

THE CABINET BUILDING AND CENATAPH, Front Street, Hamilton
Set back from the street in a park-like setting, the elegant Cabinet Building with its graceful Ionic columns stands out from its neighbors on busy Front Street.  Completed in 1841, this important building, which houses the Premier’s offices, is where the Senate meets every Wednesday during the approximately eight-month period the House of Assembly is in session up the hill.  Fittingly, its interior walls are hung with portraits of past premiers and senate presidents.  A large portrait of William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, painted c. 1625 by Daniel Mytens, a court painter to Charles I, adds to the aura of history.  The Senate Chamber contains the seventeenth century cedar `throne’ of early governor Josias Forster as well as the ceremonial Black Rod.  Each fall, in a tradition-steeped ritual in which the Governor acts as the Queen’s representative, an official uses this symbolic staff to summon legislators to the annual convening of Parliament.  The Cenotaph outside the Cabinet Building, a replica of the one at Whitehall in London, memorializes Bermudians who gave their lives in the two world wars. The Senate Chamber is open to the public 9am-5pm on weekdays except Tuesdays. (top)

CITY HALL, Church Street, Hamilton
Completed in 1960, City Hall was designed by Wil Onions, an influential twentieth-century Bermudian architect best remembered for domestic residences that interpret the island’s traditional vernacular style.  A monumental yet plain-speaking building located in the very heart of the capital, City Hall is truly the indispensable hub of community activity.  In addition to housing the offices of the Corporation of Hamilton, it is home to the City Hall Theatre, the Society of Arts Gallery and the Bermuda National Gallery.  Open weekdays 9am-5pm except during special events.  Tel. (441) 292-1234; ticket office (441) 292-2313 (top)

THE BERMUDA NATIONAL LIBRARY, Par-la-Ville Park, Queen Street, Hamilton
Founded in 1839 by Governor William Reid, who donated 267 volumes, the Bermuda Library is a lending library that is also a first-rate reference and research facility.  Free Internet service is available.  Main library hours until 30 June are Mon-Thurs 8.30am-7pm; Fri 10am-5pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 1pm-5pm. Privileges extended to visitors. Tel. 295-2905.  The Youth Library at 74 Church Street caters to children and young adults up to the age of 18.  Temporary memberships issued to visiting children who have a local sponsor.  Open Mon-Thurs and Sat 9am-5pm; Fri 10am-5pm.  Tel. (441) 295-0487. (top)

THE BERMUDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Par-la-Ville Park, Queen Street, Hamilton
Abutting the main library, this small museum is a trove of memorabilia integral to Bermuda’s cultural heritage.  In addition to fine antique furniture and eighteenth century silver, its holdings include portraits of Sir George and Lady Somers and William Perot, originally the owner of the house the museum occupies as well as the adjacent grounds, now Par-la-Ville Park.  The Society’s treasures also include a handsome tall-case clock by Thomas Millington of London and a noteworthy collection of Chinese export and Wedgwood china.  Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-3:30pm.  Admission is free but donations are welcomed.  Tel. (441) 295-2487. (top)

THE PEROT POST OFFICE, Par-la-Ville Park, Queen Street, Hamilton
The quaint little edifice at the bustling junction of Queen and Reid Streets has historical significance that belies its unassuming size.  Nineteenth century Hamilton Postmaster and Assemblyman William B. Perot erected the building on the edge of his property, Par-la-Ville, in 1842 and ran it as a post office from then until 1862, the year he retired.  It was here that Perot devised his famous stamp, a rare and prized philatelic treasure now worth a huge sum.  In 1959, almost a century after Perot retired, the Bermuda Government restored the building and reopened it as a branch post office named after him.  A photograph of the valuable Perot stamp is on display inside. (top)  

THE BERMUDA UNDERWATER EXPLORATION INSTITUTE, Front Street East
Opened in 1997, this comparatively new museum features state-of-the-art exhibits where the visitor can learn about the history of underwater exploration, marine life at different depths and Bermuda’s shipwrecks.  A number of underwater crafts, including Charles William Beebe’s bathysphere, are on display.  One room houses a superb seashell collection.  Open Mon-Fri 9am-5am; Sat-Sun 10am-5pm.  (Visitors advised to allow 1 to 2 hours for viewing and to arrive no later than 3:30pm.) Adults $12.50; seniors $10.00; children over 6 $6.00. Tel. (441) 292-7219. (top)

WATERVILLE, Pomander Gate Road, Paget
The headquarters of the Bermuda National Trust, Waterville is picturesquely situated on a tranquil stretch of Hamilton Harbour in a mostly residential area across from the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.  The property can be reached on foot from the Institute by proceeding eastwards along a leafy footpath to the boat basin nostalgically known as Foot-of-the-Lane and then walking west across this grassy park.  At the end you will be greeted by a gracious eighteenth century house. The grounds include a rose garden planted and maintained by the Bermuda Rose Society.  This waterside property is a favorite with local artists!  Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Tel. (441) 236-6483. (top)

THE WESTERN PARISHES…
GIBBS HILL LIGHTHOUSE, Lighthouse Road, off South Shore, Southampton
Soaring to 362 feet above sea level, Gibbs Hill has the distinction of being the second oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world.  Its flashing beacon, lit for the first time on May 1, 1846, is visible from up to forty miles away.  Stalwarts able to climb the one hundred and eighty five spiral stairs to the top will be rewarded by the breathtaking, panoramic views of the entire island.  Less fit visitors can enjoy the gift shop at the bottom. Open daily 9am-4pm. Admission $2.50. (top)

FORT SCAUR, Scaur Hill, off Somerset Road, Sandys
Another of the island’s untested fortifications, Fort Scaur is now a public park. Offering views of both the Great Sound and Ely’s Harbour, it is a recreational space in which children can play and adults can enjoy a picnic.  Embedded in its eastern slope is an interesting British military marker bearing the inscription “27 Regiment, RE 1906” on one side and on the other “London, 3076miles.”  The fort closes at 4:30pm but the grounds stay open until sunset.  No admission fee.  For more information telephone (441) 234-0908. (top)

HEYDON TRUST CHAPEL, Heydon Estate, Somerset Road, Sandys
Situated well in from busy Somerset Road, Heydon Chapel seems a world away, more part of pre-industrial era Bermuda than 21st century Bermuda.  The chapel occupies a modest yet picturesque little farm labourer’s cottage—a favorite of artists—that dates to the nineteenth century yet appears to have been built much earlier.  The cottage’s conversion in 1970 seems entirely appropriate for Heydon Chapel is situated in a quiet preserve that comprises many acres of undeveloped land and some stunning views.  In the spring, the retreat warrants a visit merely on the basis of a rose garden in which old varieties have been planted in a natural landscape.  Morning prayers 7:00 am each weekday; Holy Communion 5:30 pm each Wednesday.  Tel. (441) 234-1831 for information. (top)

DOLPHIN QUEST BERMUDA is home port for dol-fun and fascination that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime! People of all ages from the young to the young at heart will love our fun and interactive dolphin
encounter programs and the chance to meet a dolphin face-to-face. Our varied program activities include touching, feeding, playing with and swimming alongside the dolphins with the use of cool underwater scooters. Dolphin Quest is located at the historic Bermuda Maritime Museum. Don't miss this unique opportunity for lasting memories with dolphins while in Bermuda! Toll Free: 800-248-3316 or (441) 234-4464 Email: dqbermuda@dolphinquest.org Web: www.dolphinquest.org    (top)

THE ROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARD, Ireland Island, Sandys
Work began on this massive complex in 1809, not long after the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars and just before the War of 1812.  Envisioned as a strategic British military outpost that would make Bermuda the “Gibraltar of the West,” the Royal Naval Dockyard was built by slave and convict labour.  The Dockyard locked its gates in 1951, at a time when the US had established a military presence on the island through its creation of two bases.  Since then, the seventy-five acre site at the western most tip of Bermuda has been painstakingly renovated to accommodate museums, a movie theatre, restaurants, The Arts Centre and the Bermuda Crafts Market. (top)

BERMUDA MARITIME MUSEUM, Ireland Island, Sandys
Located in the Keep of the Royal Naval Dockyard, this museum has become one of the island’s most frequently visited destinations since being opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1975.  Its popularity has increased even more with the recent restoration and opening of Commissioner’s House, a monolith that crowns the site and is used for both exhibiting and entertainment purposes. Elsewhere on the complex, exhibits chronicle both Bermuda’s association with the Royal Naval and its own interesting maritime history.  In addition to a collection of Bermuda-made boats, there are relics from the Sea Venture, maps, the famous Tucker Treasure—collected from the sixteenth-century Spanish galleon the San Pedro—and many more artifacts.  Open 9:30am-5pm daily except Christmas Day.  Last admission is at 4:00pm.  Adults $10, seniors $8, children $5.  Children under five are admitted free.  For further information telephone (441) 234-1418. Dolphin Quest (441) 234-4464. (top)

COMMISSIONER’S HOUSE, Bermuda Maritime Museum, Royal Naval Dockyard
Located within the confines of the Bermuda Maritime Museum, Commissioner’s House dominates this complex and its entire surroundings from an elevated situation that assures its visibility from miles away.  Largely constructed between 1823 and 1828, this commanding Georgian ‘house’ epitomizes British imperial style, power and engineering wherewithal during the nineteenth century.  An experimental building in several regards, Commissioner’s House may have been the first domestic project anywhere to use cast iron to support its floors and roof.  Rescued from near dereliction through a protracted, award-winning restoration, the building—one of the most important on the island—now houses museum administrative offices and exhibits on slavery and Bermuda’s military and seafaring history.  Open during regular Maritime Museum hours. (top)