 |
 |
| |
|
[ Travel Information | T&C Islands History | T&C Islands Museum | Pirates of Grand Turk | Island Archaeology ]
This
small museum is housed in a beautifully renovated
‘Caribbean’ style building. It is situated on Duke Street directly
facing the
sea and the Columbus National Marine park.
The building itself is fully air-conditioned (and on those hot afternoons, a perfect place to escape to and cool down), it features some really interesting and superbly preserved artefacts. The main focus is the nation's people and natural history including some interesting exhibits of the Lucayan Indians. The museum boasts an excellent marine reef replica, extremely well presented with many interesting facts on reefs and reef fish.
The main highlight however, is the wreck of a caravel that sank on Molasses Reef in 1513 (see photo above), believed to be the earliest shipwreck found in the Americas. The wreck site, just south-west of West Caicos became the resting place of this small wooden sailing ship until an ambitious salvage operation began in the early eighties. Measuring just 19 meters long, the caravel having safely crossed the treacherous Atlantic sea ran aground on the reef and became stranded in sand in about 15 to 20 feet of water, laying undiscovered for some 400 years. Following the salvage, cataloguing and preservation of the 2,000 plus artefacts comprising selections of arms, tools, personal effects and pottery by the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M National Museum. The artefacts were returned to Grand Turk where they are now exhibited at the museum. In fact, a whole exhibit is centred on this wreck and this alone makes the Turks & Caicos National museum a must to visit if your in the Islands.
The museum is conveniently located in the centre of town, just a few minutes walk from the Turks Head hotel.
Address:
Guinep House
Cockburn Town, Grand Turk
Turks & Caicos Islands
Telephone: + (649) 946-2160
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 16:00
Saturday - 10:00 to 13:00