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Historic Sites in the British Virgin Islands |
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Home > Historic Sites & National Parks |
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Historic Sites & Museums | National Parks |
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RELATED INTERESTS: Sightseeing Tours , Events/Festivals , Island Shopping |
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Callwood Distillery (Tortola) |
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Located Cane Garden Bay |
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| Some of the original buildings are still standing and in use. Rum continues to be made and sold in the boiling room, where the distillery’s original boiler still operates, and the rum is stored in some of the original storage casks. The old guard house is also intact and has been turned into an art gallery and gift shop.TOP |
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The Dungeon (Tortola) |
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Located in Pockwood Pond |
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| Located in Pockwood Pond, halfway between Road Town and West End, this fort was built in 1794 and housed a garrison of soldiers responsible for protecting the islands.TOP |
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Fort Burt (Tortola) |
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Located in Road Town |
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| Originally built on a hill with commanding views overlooking the harbour to defend Road Town, the fort was rebuilt by the English in 1776, and named after William Burt, Governor of the Leeward Islands. Free and open daily from dawn to dusk, the foundations and magazine remain of this historic ruin. TOP |
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Fort Recovery (Tortola) |
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Located outside Road Town area |
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| Built in the 1640s as a military gun post, these ruins remain intact and are the oldest historical landmark in Tortola. TOP |
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Main Street (Tortola) |
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Located Road Town |
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| In addition to serving as Road Town's main shopping district, Main Street contains several historical landmarks including the Post Office built in the mid 1800s, St. Phillips Anglican Church constructed in 1840, and the Virgin Islands' Folk Museum.TOP |
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Josiah's Bay Plantation (Tortola) |
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Located Josiah's Bay |
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| Originally a sugar factory, the building at Josiah's Bay Plantation was converted into a rum distillery in the early 20th century. The machinery was powered by steam and diesel engines, examples of which can be seen on the site today. An art gallery and store are also now housed in the historic building.TOP |
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North Shore Shell Museum (Tortola) |
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Located Carrot Bay |
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| A cluttered Carrot Bay museum with thousands of shells on display, as well as boats and various craftsTOP |
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Government House(Tortola) |
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Located Road Town |
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| The recently refurbished Old Government House, a national landmark, was once the governor's residence. It is now a public museum open Monday through Friday 9am to 2pm.TOP |
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St. Philips Church (Tortola) |
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Located Road Town Area |
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| Constructed in 1840, St. Phillips is said to be the first church built for liberated Africans in all the Americas and it will undergo a complete restoration in the near future.. TOP |
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Thorton Plantation (Tortola) |
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Located |
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| This plantation was the birthplace of one of Tortola's most famous sons. Architect William Thornton prepared his first plans for the new United States Capitol building here. Ruins of the Thornton family's Pleasant Valley sugar factory still standTOP |
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Vigilant (Tortola) |
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Located Nanny Cay |
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| Vigilant, a traditionally styled 25-foot wooden boat, is one of just three original Tortola sloops remaining in the BVI. Since the 18th century, sloops such as this have carried trade goods and provided a means of communication among the islands. Vigilant was one of the fastest, and a familiar sight on the Sir Francis Drake Channel.TOP |
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Virgin Island Folk Museum (Tortola) |
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Located on Main Street just past The Plaza |
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| The Virgin Island Folk Museum has some Arawak and Carib pottery and stone tools, including a decorated spindle, wreck of The Rhone and H.M.S. Nymph artifacts, plantation items and reef conservation information. This small museum also sells t-shirts, paintings, maps, and gifts.TOP |
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Zion Hill Chapel (Tortola) |
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Located West End |
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| An early 19th century chapel, built atop Zion Hill, was the site of celebration on the day of Emancipation in 1834. After being periodically destroyed by hurricanes, it was replaced with the present Methodist chapel, a fine example of West Indian simplicity built in pasture land at the foot of Zion Hill. It has served both as a church and school.TOP |
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