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Things to do in St. John's
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Museum of Antigua and Barbuda
The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda
is located in St. John's Antigua and Barbuda, sitting in the
colonial courthouse that was built over the site of the first
marketplace and the oldest building in the city that is still in
use. This marvelous museum exhibits both colonial and Arawak
relics that have been discovered in the archaeological
excavations that have been done on the islands. There is a
history of the island, Viv Richards' cricket bat, models of
sugar plantations and a life-sized copy of an Arawak home. The
museum depicts the story of Antigua and Barbuda from their
geological birth to their political independence with
outstanding displays, with something for every member of the
family to enjoy. It also has some excellent field trips every
month to different historical parts of the islands and has
included; Crabb's Historic Amerindian sites, Fort George, Monk'
Hill, numerous historic estate houses, Guano mining camp site,
Redonda, and Sufferer's Amerindian site Barbuda. There is a
great library and research area in the museum, that is open to
the public and contains a lot of information about the history
and natural sciences available on the island. Some of the
permanent exhibits include; the geological birth of Antigua, how
shell and stone tools were created, shell ornaments, an early
colonial settlement, hollowed out log that was used for fishing,
a colonization display map and a map of the shipwrecks around
Barbuda. Other exhibits include the fossils exhibit, the
eco-system of Antigua, rocks display, how flint and shell tools
were created, the Arawaks presence in the Caribbean, archaeology
excavation, adornments, Arawaks' menu, craftwork, pottery,
religion, Cassava preparation, plant introductions, weapons and
warfare, Amerindian names of the islands, shipwrecks, slavery,
arrival of Europeans, colonial past, colonization, plantation
balance sheets, sugar production, triangle trade and Antigua's
military history.
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Fort Barrington
Fort Barrington was the island's
defense from 1779 to 1850, sitting high on a hilltop, it is a
large semi-circular structure with gun emplacements that
dominate the entry into St. John's harbor. It is situated on the
harbor's south side view, and the lower interior is an
outstanding place to explore with large dungeon-like rooms and a
powder magazine. The ruin is one of the best areas to get
fabulous views of St. John's harbor and the lands to the other
sides. In 1779, Admiral Barrington, the same that defeated the
French off St. Lucia in 1778, had this fortress constructed to
protect the city and island from any invaders or ships of war.
The fort was strengthened in 1790 to keep the French from
attacking, and would continue to be important to the island
until the second half of the 19th century. It is located about
300 feet up the hill with many magnificent views, and a good
hike for at least 30 minutes. The British occupiers wanted the
fort to keep them safe from being attacked by the French that
sailed the Caribbean in search of more lands, ships and other
peoples that held them. There is a marvelous tower located at
the fort that has the best views of the island, Deep Bay and
harbor, with a small chapel next to the fort. It was quite
decorated with engravings and paintings from Biblical scriptures
and make the chapel's visitation one of great interest and
excitement. There are many tours that will take visitors to the
fort, which usually last a day, and include excellent guides
that will tell you of the history and importance of the fort.
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Adventure Antigua
The Adventure Antigua company
was begun by Eli Fuller, a third generation Antiguan, living and
playing on the north shore of the island where his grandfather
constructed the Lord Nelson Hotel in the latter part of the 1940s,
growing up and learning all there was about the beautiful island and
the people that live here. Nick Fuller, Sr. came to the island in
1941, as the US vice consul and talked about going to the north
sound region to explore and discover. He came to Bird Island and
decided that this was where he wanted to live out his life, enjoying
the magnificent views and exotic ocean life that flowed in and
around the waters of the island. After WWII, he and his wife stayed
on the island and raised seven children, while also managing the
hotel. The hotel was the first one constructed on a beach in the
island country and opened in 1950, also home to Eli and the other
grandchildren would learn to walk, swim and converse. Eli's dad,
John, was born on the island, and went to England to further his
education, and met his future wife, Jill. After he finished his bar
exams, they moved to Antigua and continued to live the island life,
as well as starting a family. They, as well as many others feel it
is the best place in the world to raise kids and it is obvious that
they all still love the island and all it amenities quite well. Eli
attended the local catholic school and graduated at sixteen; with
afternoons always free since classes ended at 1:30 PM. Eli would
then spend his free time boating and playing around the islands, and
since snorkeling was such a favorite of the grandkids, Eli was
wearing a facemask before he could talk. At the age of 12, he
learned to windsurf and started competing soon after. In 1985, his
first big race was the Windsurfing Antigua Week, and Eli went from
Jolly Beach to Monserrat; 31 miles across the open waters, competing
for the next four years almost every day he could. In 1988, he was
offered the opportunity to represent the island in the XXIVth
Olympiad in Seoul, South Korea, at just 16 and the youngest
competitor in the windsurfing competition. The equipment that Eli
would have to use was one that he wasn't used to, and he finished
31st out of 45. After graduating high school, he went to Florida
Tech and studied business management, as well as still competing in
the international windsurfing circuit. After getting his BS in
business management, he decided to head to Maui, Hawaii and train
for the Pro Windsurfing Tour, although he dearly missed his island
home and the family that supported him so well. After traveling
around Europe, Brazil, the Canaries and Hawaii, he knew that he
preferred living on the island and being close to his family, so he
went back to Antigua and entered the hospitality business, working
at a small hotel, night clubs, restaurant, bar and sports complex he
was able to start his own business and find the fulfillment he had
been looking for. He just added another boat to his business and
enjoying doing what he loves best, being out on the water and
enjoying the life of a business owner offering tourists the best the
island has to offer. After learning all about windsurfing and
running a business, Eli tried kitesurfing and found he loved that
sport also and started a kitesurfing school. Now, with kitesurfing,
camping, beachcombing, fishing, photography, snorkeling, traveling,
surfing, reading and archaeology, he is quite busy. Able to offer
many of these adventures now, he is able to convey the best the
island has to offer, since he has done it all. It is a fantastic way
to learn more about the island and all the wonderful amenities it
has to offer visitors. There are four tours offered; the half day
catamaran tour, the eco tour, the xtreme circumnav and the Antigua
classic yacht tour. All are fabulous and exciting, offering you the
best the island has and you will remember this vacation or trip
longer than most others.
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Fort James
Fort James is the fort that sits
at the entry to St. John's harbor, Antigua and Barbuda; constructed
in 1706, to protect the harbor and one of numerous forts constructed
by the British in the 18th century. Constant worry about the French
invading and overtaking the small island kept the British on their
toes. This fort is located on a headland that looks out over the
city on its northwest side, and contains a powder magazine, some
cannons, and the foundation are all that now remain. Probably the
main reason for going to the fort is to view the magnificent sights
that are available from its heights. It is the most interesting of
the forts in the island since they still have their full complement
of cannons, since the other forts had their cannons sold for scrap
in 1869. In 1703, St. John's grew bigger than Parham and Falmouth,
when its northern entry way was fortified to protect St. John's from
any invaders. The cornerstone was laid for the foundation with full
Masonic honors in 1739, with inscribing on the stone still visible
on the east corner. Sometime later, the stone would be almost
destroyed by treasure hunters who thought that gold was buried on
the other side. During the old times, every ship that passed by the
fort has to pay 18 shillings to the captain of the fort, otherwise a
shot would be placed across its bow. Once, when a ship was being
saluted, a gun sounded and shattered the arm of a man tending the
cannon; although the fort was never in any battles. It seemed to be
a wonderful deterrent to the French ships that came from Guadalope
to raid the ships that came here during the turn of the 19th
century. The 10 cannon left, fired a 24 pound ball with an 8 pound
charge, one and a half times; and took 11 men to handle since it
weighs 2.5 tons each.
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Cathedral of St. John the Divine
St. John's Cathedral is the Anglican
church that is located in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda,
constructed in 1683, and again in 1745, with both being destroyed by
earthquakes, and the final present one being built in 1845. The
first was a wooden church built in 1681, without comfort or
elegance; the next was made of British brick. The iron gates on the
front or south side are flanked by pillars that show the figures of
St. John the Divine and St. John the Baptist; taken from a French
ship headed to Martinique in 1756; by HMS Temple. It was designed by
Robert Cullen and had a short steeple at the west end; and after a
century, when it was made a cathedral, the Diocese of Antigua was
started in 1842. Plans began to make the church equal to its new
status when a terrible earthquake shook the island in February of
1843. Some temporary repairs were made, and Bishop Daniel Davis made
the first bishop of Antigua. Just next to the older churches, a
newer purpose built cathedral would be constructed after approval by
the House of Assembly. Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, the governor,
laid the cornerstone in 1843, and three years later, the cathedral
opened for services; and consecrated on July 25, 1848. It is made of
freestone, with pine pitch on the interior to keep it from being
destroyed in earthquakes or hurricanes; and called a building within
a building. There are twin towers on the west side, that adds a
baroque flavor, and are 70 feet high, with cupolas crowning the
towers made of aluminum in color. When the cathedral was finishing
its construction, ecclesiastical architects said that it resembled,
"a pagan temple with two dumpy pepper pot towers", but now, it is
considered one of the most imposing cathedrals in the West Indian
region. At first, the south gate was the main entry point, with
pillars that held the figures of St. John the Divine and St. John
the Baptist; and the iron gates that were built in 1789. A
centenarian of the island, Samuel Smith, wrote in his memoirs, To
Shoot Hard Labor, states that the planters named the cathedral, "Big
Church", and scared the people, thinking it was a symbol of English
power. He further said that the church catered more to the planters
and their class, but after WWI, the islanders started to get more
involved in it.
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Betty's Hope
Betty's Hope is one of the
historic sugar plantations located on Antigua, close to the township
of Pares; and was the first big-scale sugar plantation that would
operate on the island, founded in 1674. It was developed by Leewards
Islands Governor Christopher Codrington, after the biggest
settlement on Barbuda is named. The plantation is not a working
plantation anymore, but an open-air museum. The majority of the
plantation lies in ruins, like many other West Indian sugar
plantations, although started by Governor Keynell, whose widow would
inherit the estate, after he passed away in 1663. She would be
forced to flee in the French occupation of 1666; and when the island
was again occupied by the British, the Parliament annulled former
land claims that belonged to people that fled or were disloyal to
the crown before the French occupation. In 1674, the plantation of
Betty's Hope was granted to the Codrington family that had been
living in Barbados. The Codrington's owned the plantation until
1944, and while they did, it would be transformed into one of the
most efficient big-scale sugar plantations in the island country.
During the period from 1689 to 1704, there would be two successive
Christopher Codringtons that were governors of the Leeward Islands
and their heirs would go on to be some of the most influential and
wealthy planters in the colonial period. Betty's Hope was an
agricultural and industrial enterprise, like most other plantations
in that period, and home to many people. Supervised by only a few
European managers, the plantations would be taken care of by
hundreds of African slaves until 1834, when they would be
emancipated
and then used as laborers for the plantation owners. Being forced to
endure great hardships, these Africans would become very skilled
distillers, boilers and craftsmen; giving Betty's Hope a wonderful
reputation as a great plantation, that is still believed to this
day.
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