Caribbean Dreams Magazine Volume 1 | Page 70

Looka de View George George Washington House & Museum Bush Hill, St. Michael A close neighbour of The Barbados Museum is George Washington House, this former plantation house, known at the time as ‘Bush Hill House’ was the two-month residence of the United States’ first President, George Washington, and his ailing half-brother, Lawrence Washington in 1751. Barbados was the only country Washington ever visited outside colonial America and Washington marked his two-month stay with several journal entries in his diary. Visitors experience a guided tour, short film and interactive museum highlighting Barbados’ social, economic, and political conditions. 246 228-5461 246 228-5710 Mon -Fri 9am–4:30pm Barbados National Heroes Gallery and Museum of Parliament Bridgetown not only home to the 3rd oldest parliament in the Commonwealth but the walls of the West Wing are also home to the Barbados Museum of Parliament and the Barbados National Heroes Gallery. Enter these interactive museums and discover the history of Barbados’ Parliament and the contributions made to Barbados by ten of the island’s most outstanding national heroes. 246 310-5400 St. Nicholas Abbey Cherry Tree Hill, St. Peter St. Nicholas Abbey Cherry Tree Hill, Nicholas Built in 1658, St. St. Peter Abbey 1658, of Nicholas Built in is one St. ONLY three genuine Jacobean Abbey is one of ONLY mansions in the Western three genuine Jacobean Hemisphere.the Western mansions in Barbados is home to two of these Hemisphere. Barbados mansions, two of these is home to St. Nicholas Abbey and mansions, Drax Hall. The Abbeys St. Nicholas Abbey and beautifully landscaped Drax Hall. The Abbeys grounds, perfectly beautifully landscaped preserved buildings grounds, perfectly and the incredible view preserved buildings atopthe incredible view and Cherry Tree Hill are all well worth Hill atop Cherry Tree the drive. well worth the are all When you arrive take aWhen you arrive drive. tour through the greatahouse, admire the take tour through the architecture admire the great house, and historical furnishings, and a short, architectureview historical rare 1930s film and short furnishings, view a hear the former owners and very rare 1930s filmtale of crime former owners hear the and tragedy. Nextof crime and fully tale explore the tragedy. operational steam mill Next explore the fully and rum distillery, mill operational steam used to produce St. Nicholas and rum distillery used Abbey RumSt. Nicholas to produce . Its an enjoyable way enjoyable Abbey Rum anto spend the to spend the day. wayday. 246 228-5461 246 228-5710 Mon -Fri 9am–4:30pm Originally called “the Public Buildings”, the gothic, coral stone structure is the location of the Parliament of Barbados, and has been the weekly meeting place for both the upper (Senate) and lower house (House of Assembly) of Parliament since 16 June 1874. These buildings are 70 | Caribbean Dreams The Bridgetown Synagogue (The Nidhe Israel Jewish Museum) The Nidhe Israel Jewish Synagogue is said to be the first synagogue built in the Western Hemisphere. It was built by Jewish immigrants from Recife, Brazil who were fleeing from harsh Dutch treatment and looking for somewhere to settle. They brought with them their skills and expertise in the sugarcane industry, previously unexplored on the island. Built in 1654, this Synagogue was destroyed by a hurricane in 1834, rebuilt, subsequently disregarded and ultimately resold in 1929. After changing ownership several times, the Jewish Synagogue was then seized by the Barbados Government in 1983 and handed over to the Barbados National Trust in 1985. The buildings highlights include Gothic architectural features, a museum and a 17th century spring-fed mikvah (ritual bath) discovered by archaeologist, Michael Stoner, in 2008. Springvale Eco-Heritage Museum Scotland District, St. Andrew Springvale Eco-Heritage Museum is a hidden gem tucked away in the Barbados countryside in the northern area known as Scotland District. Take a step back in time on this delightfully tranquil property, enter the museum and enjoy the tales of a younger Barbados as told by the museums’ elderly owner Mr. Newlands Greenidge. Tyrol Cot Heritage Villa Codrington Village. St. Michael Constructed in 1854, Tyrol Cot was once the family home of, Sir Grantley Adams (Barbados’ first premier and the only Prime Minister of the Federation of the West Indies) and his son (second Prime Minister of Barbados) the late J.M.G.M. “Tom” Adams. Adams was said to be the founding father of Barbadian democracy and his former home is a historic Palladian-style house, andthe site of a modern “Heritage Chattel House Village” with local crafts and a restaurant , giving visitors an idea of 1920’s architecture and way of life. 246 424-2074 Mon - Fri 8am – 4:30pm (last tour at 4:00 p.m.) Sir Frank Hutson Sugar Museum Portvale Sugar Factory, St. James Barbados produces some of the highest quality cane sugar in the world and the Sir Frank Hutson Sugar Museum highlights this sweet, sweet treasure. The museum, which showcases the sugar industry in Barbados through the 1700’s and 1800’s, is the namesake of one of its founders, Sir Frank Hutson who was an avid Barbadian historian. The Museum is said to be one of the island’s best sites for understanding the sugar industry as it is also home to exhibits of old sugar making & transporting machinery. The museum is open year round but visitors to the museum between February to May (the reaping season) can also enjoy a tour of the modern factory and get a better understanding (and sample) of the relationship with molasses and our world famous rum. 246 250-9290 Mon to Sat 9am - 5pm