St. George's Museums and Art Galleries

(St. George's, Bermuda)

So much is tied up in the history of St. George's Parish, and it is practically impossible to spend any time here without feeling drawn into a museum at least once or twice.

Several excellent museums are in town, including the Bermuda National Trust Museum on the Duke of York Street, Tucker House on Water Street and the St. George Historical Museum on the Duke of Kent Street. Perhaps the most impressive is the one found in Fort St. Catherine, off Retreat Hill Road, while the Bridge House Gallery on Bridge Street is one of the only art galleries on this side of the island.

Fort St. Catherine

Address: Retreat Hill Road, St. George's, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 297 1920
This spot is where the crew of the shipwrecked Sea Venture went ashore and founded the second British colony in the New World. The original fort was built in 1614 and renovated several times. By the 19th century it began to resemble the fortress that tourists see today. Inside is a fine museum with exhibits exploring the fate of the Sea Venture and the building of the fort itself, alongside displays of period weaponry and cooking ware.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Bermuda National Trust Museum

Address: 32 Duke of York Street, St. George's, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 236 6483
The Bermuda National Trust is housed in an early 16th-century fine stone building that was among the first built in Bermuda. During the American Civil War, this building served as an important weighing station for smuggled goods headed from Great Britain to the Confederate South. This house later operated as the 'Globe Hotel' in the middle of the 19th century, before becoming a National Trust property in the early 1950s. The Bermuda National Trust Museum includes replicas of the shipwrecked Sea Venture and detailed accounts of the Civil War smugglers who ran supplies. There is also a video entitled 'Bermuda, Centre of the Atlantic', which tells the story of the island's history. Upstairs is the 'Rogues and Runners Museum', which was previously named the Confederate Museum and clearly documents the role of Bermuda during the American Civil War.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge

Bridge House Gallery

Address: 1 Bridge Street, St. George's, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 297 8211
The Bridge House was originally constructed in the latter part of the 17th century. At that time, it served as the primary residence for a string of governors, including Bridger Goodrich, a famous Virginian loyalist who is remembered for once blockading Chesapeake Bay. Nowadays, the Bridge House functions as both a museum and art gallery, and also operates a popular gift shop with Bermudian handicrafts for sale.
Open hours: March to December, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00; January to February, Wednesday and Friday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Tucker House Museum

Address: 5 Water Street, St. George's, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 297 0545
The Tucker family came from England to Bermuda in the 18th century and built this classic colonial mansion. Today, their former home is owned by the Bermuda National Trust and is operated as a museum, displaying period furniture and portraits of the Tucker family, including Henry Tucker, who served as the president of the Governor's Council between the years 1775 and 1807. There is also an exhibit following the life of Joseph Rainey, the first person of African descent to gain a place in the House of Representatives.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge

St. George's Historical Society Museum

Address: Duke of Kent Street, St. George's, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 297 0423
Another cultural highlight housed in a characterful colonial home, St. George's Historical Museum is full of 18th-century wares. This attraction is located to the north of the town centre and displays relics from the Pequot Native American tribe. Visitors will find that the house is home to a fully reconstructed colonial kitchen, a bible dating back more than 300 years and some native American axe heads. There is also a letter written by George Washington, the very first president of the USA.
Open hours: April to November, Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 16:00; November to March, Wednesday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Bermuda Heritage Museum

Address: Water Street, St. George's, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 297 4126
Located on the corner of Water Street and the Duke of York Street, the Bermuda Heritage Museum occupies a converted mid-19th century warehouse. The exhibits concentrate on an assortment of regional history, including displays relating to the abolition of slavery, the freedom fighters and the leaders who helped to shape the island in its early days. There is also a particularly fascinating exhibit relating to the slave ship named the Enterprise, which ended up here, on its journey between Virginia and South Carolina. It is said that many of the Bermudans of today are related to the 'human cargo' being transported on the Enterprise. Of note, Tucker House is just a short walk away, as is the Post Office.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 15:00
Admission: free