Discover the Origins of the salt trade in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Rise and Fall of the Salt Trade on the islands

Help preserve the history of the islands.

All Events for 2020 have been temporarily postponed. We will continue to monitor the current health crises. We will advised reschedule dates based on the status and changes associated with the pandemic.

Our Featured Exhibits

Want to know more about what you will see when you visit the museum? Explore these exhibits to get an insight to the history and events that are part of the Turks & Caicos Islands.

The Dawning of the Space Age

John Glenn and the space race with Russia came to the The Turks and Caicos Islands in 1962

Caicos Heritage House

A historically correct recreation of a typical 1800s Caicos dwelling

Grand Turk Lighthouse

The stunning Fresnel lens and intricate clockwork mechanism were saved by the Museum

Welcome to The  Turks and Caicos National Museum  

Explore the island’s Culture & History, roam through our exhibits on Nature & Environment, keep up with the latest museum events and follow our projects, both old and new.

Plan your visit and discover for yourself how we came to be the “best little museum in the Caribbean” and called “a little gem” by travel blogs. The Museum is also reviewed by TripAdvisor; come in and see what all the buzz is about. The Museum is a publicly funded not for profit organization. It is not a part of the TCI Government. Only your Donations & Support makes it all possible. Become a supporter today — we can’t do it without your help.

Visit our Support page for levels, downloadable forms, online donations and more. All on-line support and donations are processed through the Friends of the Turks and Caicos National Museum a US registered 501(c)3 tax exempt supporting organization.

The Museum is a publicly funded not for profit organization.

It is not a part of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and receives no regular support from the Government. Only your Support makes it all possible. Become a supporter today — we can’t do it without your help.

Museum Locations

Guinep House, Front Street

Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies (BWI)
Tel (01 649) 247-2160
From the US (786) 220-1159
Hours vary please check our schedule under Grand Turk Tours

The Village at Grace Bay

Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies (BWI)
Tel (01 649) 941-9358
Mobile (01 649) 247-2161
From the US (786) 220-1159
Grace Bay Hours: M-F 9am–1 pm closed weekends and holidays

Museum Bulletin Board

Support the Burrell Restoration

Do you love steam engines? Have a passion for history? Make a donation in any amount to help restore the Burrell Steam Traction Engine, the Iron Giant of Yankeetown. Read all about the Burrell Steam Traction Engine, an amazing bit of TCI history.

Museum Volunteers Wanted!

Gift shop, tour guide, building and garden renovation, IT, and data entry are a few of the positions we have for energetic volunteers. If you would like to join our team contact Michael Pateman at 649-247-2160.

Donors - The Source of Our Success

Without the support of foundations, individuals, and volunteers the Museum couldn’t exist. We invite you to visit our Donor Recognition page to join with us in thanking them. We would be honored to include your name or your  company name and a link to your company’s website  on this very special list.

The Colors of the Turks and Caicos Islands

RED was chosen to represent the nation’s capital, Grand Turk. The color is taken from the red/pink fruit found on the national plant, the Turks Head Cactus. They were once found in abundance on Grand Turk before they were removed to accommodate the salt ponds.

WHITE was chosen to represent Salt Cay. The color came from salt. The salt industry was largely responsible for populating the islands of Salt Cay, Grand Turk and South Caicos.

ORANGE was chosen to represent South and East Caicos. The color comes from the Spiny Lobster and fish and reflects the fishing industry in the “Big South.”

TAN was chosen to represent Middle Caicos. The color is taken from the raw material (thatch) that once covered the roofs of the houses. It is also used to make straw hats, baskets and brooms. Middle Caicos is known for the superior quality of native craftwork.

GREEN was chosen to represent North Caicos and Parrot Cay. The color is taken from the fruit trees and other types of trees that flourish in the most fertile of all the islands. North Caicos is also home of Wade’s Green Plantation, the most successful of Caicos Islands cotton plantations.

TURQUOISE was chosen to represent the islands of Providenciales, Pine Cay and West Caicos. The color is taken from the beautiful turquoise waters that surround these islands on which our famous Caicos fishing sloops sail. These turquoise waters also contribute to our newest industry, tourism.

PINK was chosen to represent the beautiful conch shell, flamingoes and the numerous uninhabited cays that make up our chain of islands.

YELLOW represents God’s glory as the sun shining down on all our beautiful islands and cays. The sun also contributes to our newest industry, tourism.

View a timeline of important events and dates in the history of the islands

A Few Artifacts You’ll See at the Museum

Our collections represent the rich historical, cultural and natural heritage of the Turks and Caicos Islands and its people.

Lucayan Duho

Photo courtesy of Joanna Ostapkowicz. The Duho is one of the rarest artifacts in the museum’s collections. It was used a ceremonial seat for the cacique or chief of the Lucayans, the first inhabitants of these islands.

Fresnel Lens

The Grand Turk Lighthouse was erected in 1852 and was originally designed to burn whale oil and had an Argand reflector lamp. In 1943 the lighthouse was converted to a Fresnel Lens one of these lenses is now on display at the Museum.

Swivel Gun

The Molasses reef wreck, an early Spanish Caravel was equipped with three types of breech-loading swivel guns, one type is shown above. The swivel guns are thought to be anti-personnel weapons placed wherever convenient along the ship’s rail.

Salt Industry Post Card

The museum has diverse collection of early postcards of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Most post cards depict scenes on Grand Turk, the capital and from the salt industry.

Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands

H.E. Dr. John Freeman

“The National Museum is a TCI national treasure, which has grown from a quiet private initiative into a national resource and repository. It has gradually accumulated objects and papers of inestimable value to the collective sense of belonging in these Islands.

It now serves as a living expression of a collective memory; and without a collective memory there can be no sense of collective identity. The National Museum should be dear to the hearts of all those who live on these Islands.

I am struck deeply by the valuable holdings; not just of wonderful artefacts, but also of the tremendously evocative paper holdings, the records of births and deaths, the evidence of continuities in the Islands' population – who they were and who they are now. Visiting the museum, one gets a real sense of how life in these Islands were lived.

The TCI lives in all its cultural and historical richness through the National Museum. It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that it remains such an important part of TCI’s heritage and I encourage all readers to visit and support it.”

Dr. John Freeman H.E.
Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands

Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands

Hon Sharlene Cartwright Robinson

"As a proud Turks and Caicos Islander and a holder of a degree in history, I have always taken a very keen interest in history generally and then in the history, heritage and culture of these wonderful Turks & Caicos Islands.

From my humble beginnings growing up in the fishing capital, South Caicos, and the real capital, Grand Turk, to becoming the first female Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, history has played a big part in my life.

The Turks & Caicos National Museum is a veritable goldmine of information on the history of these islands; spanning over a thousand years, from the Pre-Columbian Indians, to the space age and everything else in between.

I welcome you to the TCN Museum website, and should you be fortunate enough to visit Grand Turk, I encourage you to visit this marvelous national repository, and immerse yourself in the surprisingly deep and rich history of these beautiful by nature Turks & Caicos Islands".

Hon Sharlene Cartwright Robinson
Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands

President of Turks and Caicos Islands Community College

Dr. Hubert A. Fulford

"My interest in history and research goes back to my years as a student at the then Grand Turk Secondary School, where my teacher and later mentor, the late Helena Jones Robinson instilled a curiosity in me to appreciate context.  At that time, not fully appreciating the impact that curiosity would have on me, I sought only to please my teacher.

Pursuing tertiary education at various institutions, in various countries and at various levels, my initial foundation of inquiry was further stimulated.  Libraries and museums would form a very important part of my education, specifically during my studies in Jamaica, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Returning home after my studies abroad, my first visit to the Museum so captivated me that I began to tell all persons, visitors and islanders alike, that a visit to the museum was a MUST! The quaintness, yet thorough organization and presentation of artifacts of various kinds avowed me.

I found tremendous joy in taking my TCI Studies students to the Museum, standing back and listening to their expressions of excitement and curiosity as the curators and assistants would walk them through the various displays and presentations.

The Jamaican expression “likkle but tallawah” (small but strong) aptly fits our Museum.  The significance of this institution to our history and culture cannot be over stressed.

Welcome to The Museum.  A combination of history, culture and enchantment awaits you."

Dr. Hubert A. Fulford
President of Turks and Caicos Islands Community College

Historic Photo Gallery of the Turks and Caicos Islands

All images and the design of this Web site are protected under federal copyright laws. Any downloading, duplication or reproduction of any part of this Web site by any method whatsoever without the expressed written permission of the Turks & Caicos National Museum Foundation is strictly prohibited. Photos and/or usage rights are available for purchase please contact us for details.

Locations

Guinep House, Front Street

Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies (BWI)
Tel (01 649) 247-2160
From the US (786) 220-1159
Hours Vary - See our schedule under Locations

The Village at Grace Bay

Development Office and Caicos Heritage House
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies (BWI)
Tel (01 649) 941-9358 Mobile (01 649) 247-2161
Grace Bay Hours: M-F 9am – 1 pm, closed holidays

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