Location

Antigua & Barbuda

Cost

Rate: US $3.00 or $8.00 EC

Description

The ancient St. John’s Courthouse, thought to be the oldest structure in town and completed in 1750, is now home to the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, which was established in 1985. Peter Harrison, well-known for numerous beautiful structures in the United States and the West Indies, including the Spanish Town Statehouse in Jamaica and the Mansion House in New York City, was the architect. The meeting spaces for the Legislative Council and Assembly were located above, and the Court of Justice was located on the first floor. (See Desmond Nicholson’s Heritage Treasures of Antigua and Barbuda, accessible at the Museum, for further information on the history of the structure.)
The museum’s main floor is home to displays about Antigua and Barbuda’s history and culture, including the geological formation of the islands, the Amerindian peoples and cultures who lived there before European settlers arrived, and contemporary Antiguan cultural customs. A substantial collection of pre-Colombian and historical relics, including as ceramics, animal remains, and metal objects, may be found in the library upstairs. There is also a sizable collection of primary and secondary sources, such as books, maps, and pictures.

Contact Information:

Tel: (876) 860-8805