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Museum History

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Help preserve the history of the islands.

Our Beginnings

How did the “The Best Little Museum in the Caribbean” or the Museum that has been recorded as “A little Gem” (Lonely Planet Guide to the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands) start its life?

The Turks and Caicos National Museum was officially opened on November 23rd, 1991. However, the first thoughts of a museum had been voiced during the excavations of the Molasses Reef Shipwreck between 1982 and 1986. It was the discovery and eventual scientific recovery of the finds from this wreck that instigated the development of the Museum. Up until this date archaeological finds both on land and at sea had been taken back to the United States for conservation, eventually to be added to American museum collections or returned to the Islands where they were either stored in unsuitable conditions or lost.

This was not a state of affairs that the Molasses Reef Shipwreck excavation team found acceptable and wanted to return the items to where they belonged; The Turks and Caicos Islands. Finally, after several meetings with local residents the Interested citizens incorporate the Turks and Caicos National Museum as a nonprofit organization in 1990. They donated the Guinep House, one of the oldest buildings in the islands, to the Nation. Renovations transformed the building into a museum facility and funds were found to establish a museum that would provide environmentally stable display spaces for objects and would tell the story of the Islands.

In 1996 The Donald Keith Research building, named after the leader of the Molasses Reef Shipwreck team, was opened behind the Guinep House so that scientific research could be undertaken on Grand Turk in up to date laboratories. Now, most finds from archaeological excavations no longer need to be taken off the Islands for conservation and are added to the Museum’s collection soon after being recorded.

The nature of the Islands: high humidity and temperature, salt content in the air and small population means that there is little historical evidence of human occupation because what there was has decayed. The transient nature of the population has also seen many items removed from the Islands, usually ending up in Britain or America. The Museum has a difficult task ahead in acquiring materials related to the Islands and their Inhabitants but this is a responsibility that the staff embraces wholeheartedly. Residents and visitors alike can help by informing the Museum of anything which they feel can be added to the collection.

A Quick Guide to the Important Dates in the History of the Museum

1990 Interested citizens incorporate the Turks and Caicos National Museum as a nonprofit organization Work begins to transform the donated Guinep House into a museum facility.

1991 The Museum opens featuring the Molasses Reef Shipwreck, the oldest shipwreck excavated in the Western Hemisphere. Smaller exhibits highlight Islands life and History.

1993 Museum opens a new exhibit on the Coral Reef and Island Geology. In the same year Great Britain’s Prince Phillip visits the Museum. Enthralled by the Museum, he stays longer than scheduled.

1994 Museum wins the 1994 Caribbean American Express Preservation Award:
“For the efforts of a cooperative partnership to create a national museum in a restored historic building, to house exhibits and a collection of great educational value reflecting the highest quality of scholarship and authenticity.”

1996 Barry Dressel is appointed as the first Director to the Museum. In the same year he coordinates the publication of the first issue of the Museum’s newsletter, The Astrolabe.

1996 Captain Bob Gascoine discovers an intact Taino Indian canoe paddle in North Creek. Preserved in peat, the paddle dates to about 1100 AD. It is only the second pre-Columbian paddle ever recovered. The other, found in the Bahamas in the early part of the century, originally went to the Heye Museum in New York, which has now been absorbed by the Smithsonian.

1997 The Museum dedicates the new Donald H. Keith Science Building housing wet lab, artifact storage, workshop, lecture room, and office.

1999 The Museum Board of Trustees hires Nigel Sadler as Museum Director. Mr. Sadler brings experience and formal training in both Archaeology and museums.

The first of several museum exhibits is installed in the airport at Providenciales.

2000 The newly conserved Taino Indian canoe paddle (see 1996 above) returns to the museum where it is mounted in a special display in time to be viewed by another member of the British Family, the Duke of York.

2001 The Lucayan Gallery opens to the public
The Museum hosts the prestigious Museums Association of the Caribbean’s AGM

2001 A new display is erected in the arrivals lounge of Providenciales International Airport

2002 The Space Gallery Opens to mark the 40th anniversary of John Glenn’s arrival and the involvement of Grand Turk in the Space Race

2006 The Museum Board of Trustees hires Dr. Neal Hitch as Museum Director. Dr Hitch brings experience in history, architecture, and museum project management

2008 Dr. Donald H. Keith is elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees

2009 The Museum Board of Trustees undertakes a restructuring and hires Mrs. Patricia Saxton as Museum Director and Mrs. Jackie Garbarino as Gift Shop and Volunteer Manager

2010 The Museum Board of Trustees secures a commitment to the first parcel of land in the Village at Grace Bay from Mr. George Coggins of Jeanette Caribbean for the new  branch of the Museum on Providenciales

2011 An anonymous donor commits funding to establish the Caicos Heritage House Exhibit on the property in the Village at Grace Bay.

2012 The purchase of the land in the Village at Grace Bay is finalized. A mini-exhibit is installed in the Museum Development Office. Construction begins on the Caicos Heritage House Exhibit.

2018 New museum manager Michael P. Pateman PHd is hired.  Dr. Pateman brings experience and formal training in both Archaeology and museums.

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The Museum is a publicly funded not for profit organization.

It is not a part of the Turks & 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.

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Click here to view a timeline of important events and dates in the history of the islands

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

View Timeline

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.

Take a Look
TCI Governor

Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands

H.E. Nigel Dakin CMG

The Turks & Caicos Islands National Museum on Grand Turk surely stands in one of the most majestic settings of any museum, anywhere! Perched on the edge of the Columbus Landfall national park. The 200-year-old building, “Guinep Lodge”, which houses a multitude of artifacts covering everything from the pre–Columbian Indians to the modern age, is a museum in its own right. The west facing building has stood firm and witnessed 200+ years of incredible TCI sunsets and has withstood every major hurricane since before records began.

The National Museum plays a vital role in recovering, preserving, recording and displaying the history of these island for all to see, enjoy and learn from. The museum’s archive is a veritable treasure trove of information, with enough information to fill two museums. With thousands of pre-Columbian artifacts from multiple archeological digs from around the TCI over the last 50 years, un-displayed artifacts from ancient warships, parish records or births, deaths and marriages dating back over 200 years; a veritable gold mine of information, just waiting to be discovered.

The museum is not only an exhibition facility for local history and artifacts, but also undertakes important work in the community with multiple events throughout the year and supports all the TCI schools, has a regular summer camp and kids club for our budding historians and archeologists of tomorrow.  The Grand Turk location includes a “science building” which is a fully fledged restoration facility to stabilize artifacts before they are displayed or stored in the archive. All of this work has been quietly undertaken since the museum was founded 30 years ago. There is also a campus on Provo and there are exciting plans underway to construct a new, multimillion dollar purpose-built facility for the wider enjoyment of our fascinating history. The Governor’s Office is proud to have supported the TCNMF over the years with vital capital projects.

Whether you are a local, or a visitor to our beautiful shores; I encourage you to visit and support the Turks & Caicos National Museum and absorb our colorful and surprisingly diverse local history.


H E Nigel Dakin CMG

Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands

Minister for Tourism, Heritage & Culture for inclusion on the museum website

Hon. Josephine Connnolly

"It is a pleasure as Minister with responsibility of Heritage to welcome you to the Turks and Caicos Islands National Museum website. This Gem of an operation is perhaps the most notable establishment in regards to sites of historical interest. Since its establishment in 1991 it has always been an intricate part of our tourism product.

As a supporter, I believe the National Museum’s success depends on all resident and visitors; and as Minister I am committed to strengthening our tourism product through the infusion of authenticity and the increase in awareness of the National Museum in the development of heritage assets for sustainable tourism development.

Visit and explore the Grand Turk and Providenciales locations and experience our heritage and culture through interactive displays and exhibits. Special thanks is extended to the National Museum, a tangible product, a repository for artefacts and documents, providing a true island experience.".

Hon. Josephine Connnolly
Minister for Tourism, Heritage & Culture for inclusion on the museum website

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.

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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) 247-2161
Grace Bay Hours: See Hours For This Location

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