ART AND HISTORY IN KINGSTON - JAMAICA TOURIST ISSUE 14
Often called the heart of the Caribbean, Jamaica’s capital is a lively cornucopia of vibrancy and rhythm. The epicentre of local art and cultural landscape, Kingston is always buzzing with a robust vitality befitting the island’s political, economic and social capital. For anyone interested in the history, culture and art of Jamaica, a trip to Kingston is a must.
One of the city’s most visited museums, the Bob Marley Museum is located at 56 Hope Road, and features Bob Marley’s former home which he bought from Chris Blackwell in the 1970s. Visitors can see the former Tuff Gong recording studio, the reggae icon’s platinum and gold records, stage outfits, press clippings and the bullet holes from an attempted assassination. A medicinal herb garden is located outside the museum, where tours end with a 20 minute movie of “The Legend’s” life. Call 927-9152 or visit www.bobmarley-foundation.com.
Located at the end of the Palisadoes Peninsula, Port Royal was once called the world’s wealthiest and most wicked city during the time of the Buccaneers. In 1692, a large earthquake sank 90% of the city and buried it underwater. Great guided scuba-dives to old ship wrecks are available to visitors with a penchant for lost treasures. Today, Port Royal is a sleepy fishing village and a great place to come to relax. Eat at any of the acclaimed fish restaurants and take pleasure in the laid back atmosphere of the town and enjoy “the simple life”. Attractions include the White Mark Arawak Museum, which displays relics and artifacts of the area’s ancient Indian culture, Fort Charles and the Giddy House (the Royal Artillery Building sank half way during the earthquake and to this day, is still half buried). An amazing walking tour through this history riddled city with one of the many guides, ending at the Y Caribbean. Featuring talented artists born throughout the decades, the gallery portrays an array of work including Knot Bar, is recommended.
The historic downtown Kingston area has much to offer for the art and history buff. The National Gallery located on Ocean Boulevard showcases Jamaica’s greatest artistic endeavors and is the largest public gallery in the depictions of rural Jamaican life, landscapes, people, works of the city, religious visions, history and social criticism as well as portraiture, tradition, fantasy and folklore. Go to www.about.galleryjamaica.org or call 922-1561.
Walk a few blocks and you will be at the Institute of Jamaica, home to the most significant collection of ecological, social or cultural history in Jamaica. An exciting project that documents the country’s social history with audio visual recordings of its senior citizens is called the Jamaica Memory Bank, an archive of oral history showing several aspects of Jamaican life, history and culture. Within the institute you can also visit The Natural History Museum and the Natural Division, which houses hundreds of thousands of specimens, artifacts and plant species of significant ecological and historical value to Jamaica. Call 922-0620 or visit: www.instituteofjamaica.org.jm.
One of the city’s most visited museums, the Bob Marley Museum is located at 56 Hope Road, and features Bob Marley’s former home which he bought from Chris Blackwell in the 1970s. Visitors can see the former Tuff Gong recording studio, the reggae icon’s platinum and gold records, stage outfits, press clippings and the bullet holes from an attempted assassination. A medicinal herb garden is located outside the museum, where tours end with a 20 minute movie of “The Legend’s” life. Call 927-9152 or visit www.bobmarley-foundation.com.
Located at the end of the Palisadoes Peninsula, Port Royal was once called the world’s wealthiest and most wicked city during the time of the Buccaneers. In 1692, a large earthquake sank 90% of the city and buried it underwater. Great guided scuba-dives to old ship wrecks are available to visitors with a penchant for lost treasures. Today, Port Royal is a sleepy fishing village and a great place to come to relax. Eat at any of the acclaimed fish restaurants and take pleasure in the laid back atmosphere of the town and enjoy “the simple life”. Attractions include the White Mark Arawak Museum, which displays relics and artifacts of the area’s ancient Indian culture, Fort Charles and the Giddy House (the Royal Artillery Building sank half way during the earthquake and to this day, is still half buried). An amazing walking tour through this history riddled city with one of the many guides, ending at the Y Caribbean. Featuring talented artists born throughout the decades, the gallery portrays an array of work including Knot Bar, is recommended.
The historic downtown Kingston area has much to offer for the art and history buff. The National Gallery located on Ocean Boulevard showcases Jamaica’s greatest artistic endeavors and is the largest public gallery in the depictions of rural Jamaican life, landscapes, people, works of the city, religious visions, history and social criticism as well as portraiture, tradition, fantasy and folklore. Go to www.about.galleryjamaica.org or call 922-1561.
Walk a few blocks and you will be at the Institute of Jamaica, home to the most significant collection of ecological, social or cultural history in Jamaica. An exciting project that documents the country’s social history with audio visual recordings of its senior citizens is called the Jamaica Memory Bank, an archive of oral history showing several aspects of Jamaican life, history and culture. Within the institute you can also visit The Natural History Museum and the Natural Division, which houses hundreds of thousands of specimens, artifacts and plant species of significant ecological and historical value to Jamaica. Call 922-0620 or visit: www.instituteofjamaica.org.jm.
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