Find out what’s happening behind the scenes
By Candianne Williams
Grace Bay Development Office
The year 2015 is almost at an end and the holiday season is upon us. To end the year these two school groups went on a field trip that included the Museum’s Development Office in the Village at Grace Bay.
Osetta Jolly Primary School’s Grade 6 class and their teacher Mrs. Robinson visited us. We were also visited by grades one through three of the Shining Stars Primary School accompanied by Mrs. Reid, Mrs. Jackson, Ms. Campbell and Ms. Gibson.
The students were very intelligent and engaging and I enjoyed interacting with them. I also have to compliment the teachers for doing an excellent job as was evident from the students’ questions and responses to the questions that were posed to them.
Both groups enjoyed their visit and remarked that they found the Development Office fascinating, informative and interesting. We wish you all Happy Holidays and the very best for the coming year.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Candianne Williams
Museum Development Office
The Village at Grace Bay
One of the events planned to celebrate the Turks and Caicos National Museum’s 25th Anniversary is the launch of the first annual National Museum Quiz for secondary school students. The quiz semifinals will be held on February 25th 2016 and the finals on March 3rd 2016 during Education Week.
On Wednesday 25th November a quiz preparation workshop for the secondary school history teachers was held at the Museum’s Development Office in the Village at Grace Bay, Providenciales in conjunction with the Department of Education. These teachers will be the coaches for the teams for the Quiz.
The museum’s outdoor exhibit, the Caicos Heritage House and Garden in the Village in Grace Bay, is the inspiration for the quiz. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) definition of cultural heritage as tangible, intangible and natural heritage will be used to inform the scope of the quiz.
The teachers who participated in the workshop represented eight secondary schools from across the Turks and Caicos Islands. The schools represented were H J Robinson High School in Grand Turk, Raymond Gardiner High School in North Caicos, Marjorie Basden High School in South Caicos and Clement Howell High School, Maranatha High School, Wesley Methodist School, Long Bay High School and TCIPS Comprehensive High School in Providenciales. Special thanks to Fortis for sponsoring the workshop and making it possible to have representation form the family islands.
Mr. Mark Garland, Deputy Director of Education and a member of the planning team of the Museum’s National Quiz Committee addressed the workshop. He spoke to teachers about the important role they play in passing on the cultural heritage of these islands to their students and encouraged them to participate fully in the workshop.
Ms. Talisha Simons, Manager of Corporate Communications, Fortis TCI, the Corporate Sponsor for the Quiz, reiterated the company’s commitment to the education of the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands, their expressed interest in the history and cultural heritage of these islands and said how happy they were to sponsor the Museum’s National Quiz.
Mr. Don Stark founder Turks & Caicos Reef Fund, sponsoring partner spoke about the Coral Reef Program which will be launched early next year, first in the primary schools and then in the secondary schools. The TCI Reef Fund, the National Museum and Department of Environmental and Maritime Affairs are collaborating on this program.
Mr. Ben Stubenberg, owner of Caicu Naniki and sponsoring partner enticed all present with the details of the 3 day, 2 night tour to the historic city of Cap Haitien, which is the main prize trip for the winning team accompanied by the teacher/coach. One of the trip highlights will be a tour of the Citadelle Fortress which is the largest in the Americas and a UNESCO protected World Heritage Site.
Workshop Facilitators: Mrs. Patricia Saxton – Director of the National Museum; Mrs. Nikki Jennings – National Museum’s Tour Guide, Mrs. Amy Avenant – Environmental Outreach Coordinator, Dept. of Environmental & Maritime Affairs (DEMA), Ms. Angella Freites Department of Culture, Mr. David Bowen from Grace Bay Resorts Community Foundation gave fantastic presentations on aspects of cultural heritage based on UNESCO’s definition. These presentations were each followed by very fruitful discussions. The general consensus coming out of the workshop was that it was informative and beneficial to all present.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Candianne Williams
Development Office
The Village at Grace Bay
There are many new plants in the Heritage Garden, artfully arranged with informative signage which gives the local name, the scientific name and its use.
Thanks to Bryan Naqqi Manco, Caicos Pine Recovery Project Manager on North Caicos, who devoted Saturday 21st November 2015 to the Museum’s Caicos Heritage Garden.
Additionally, thanks to the Department of Environment & Maritime Affairs Native Plant Nursery in Kew, North Caicos for the great plants and to Lewtide for bringing them from North Caicos to Providenciales in pristine shape.
Special thanks to Natalie Zaidan owner and Mark van Eyssen Maintenance Manager of Environmental Arts for making it happen. The plants were collected, stored and then planted thanks to the management and staff of Environmental Arts. They also cleared and trucked away the dry and unsightly shrubbery.
The garden is taking shape; we have many plans for the future and will keep you updated. We hope you will visit soon.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Candianne Williams
Museum Development Office
The Village at Grace Bay
The Road Map of Providenciales is the most relied on guide to finding one’s way around the island especially for but not only for the visitors. I am pleased to say that the Turks and Caicos National Museum Foundation, the Village, Grace Bay now appears on the 2016 Road Map of Providenciales, which is now in circulation.
Our first map visitors were Timothy Ryan and Amanda Benson. I saw walking around in the rain dressed in raincoats and map in hand. They told me that when they saw us on the map, they were determined to find us and would not let the weather deter them. They were visiting from Tennessee and enjoyed they stay which they say was coming to an end all too quickly, a sure indication that they were having a great time. They were however very happy to spend some time learning about the history of the Turks and Caicos Islands. They said that they found it fascinating.
Our second map visitor was L. B. Brown, a first time visitor to Turks and Caicos from New York. Her vacation was all about being in the sun for a couple days to rejuvenate. She wanted to soak in the history and culture of the island. When she looked at the road map, she was thrilled to find that there was a museum office in Providenciales. She too came, map in hand in a rented car. She said that the visit to the Development Office and Heritage House and Garden was the highlight of her trip. She was looking forward to a museum on her return visit.
We look forward to welcoming more visitors.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Patricia Saxton
Director
In November we had some very interesting guests, all the way from California. A very young 89 year old- Miss Lolita “Lita” Taylor and her traveling companions, Alma Hayes and Ron Roth came to the Museum to see we had any information about Lita’s great-great grandfather Reverend John Turtle.
Rev Turtle was the first Methodist clergy, and had come to Grand Turk even before the church was built! Unfortunately he passed here in Grand Turk at the young age of 32 from “consumption”. We know this because we were able to bring up the death notices from 1825. We believe he is buried on the “island within and island” grave site, where many people were buried before the government cemetery was built.
Lita has done extensive research on her relative, which has taken her to the UK, where she found original letters, which were housed in the School of Oriental and African studies library at the University of London. Ms. Taylor also transcribed the letters and has donated copies of the originals and the transcriptions to our archives. Transcribing these letters is a very tiresome job, so the National Museum commends our new found friend for all of the hard work! It was such a pleasure to meet with Lita, Alma and Ron and to spend time with them. I am hoping we can we can see all of them again soon!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
The founder of the Footsteps4Good charity walk, Jill Beckingham, will walk across the main islands of the Turks and Caicos once again this year to raise money for charities in the islands. Last year the total raised was over $30,000 and Jill is hoping to increase that this year.
This year’s walk will start on 16th October at the lighthouse in Grand Turk. Jill will be joined by participants of all ages including children and students who will walk with her. “This year I would like to open the event to all children and students who would like to join me, and also raise funds for their schools”, said Jill.
The Provo Road Runners is partnering the event in Provo. They have already begun registration at IGA, IGA Gourmet and Quality supermarkets each Saturday. Paula Capehart, chair of Provo Road Runners said “We are very excited to be part of Footsteps again this year, which not only raises money for charity but encourages more people to start walking and running”. You can purchase a T-shirt and earmark your donation to the charity of your choice; you do not have to participate in the walk.
Last year the Museum received $2,000 from the event. This year our very own Museum team–Nicki, Angel, Fred, and Cecile on Grand Turk and Candianne on Provo–will be participating. Go TEAM! We hope that all of the organizations and their members will come out and support the participants!
For more information about the walk or to make a donation in support of the Museum or other organization, contact Jill Beckingham or Provo Road Runners. If you are on Facebook, visit the TCI Governor’s Facebook page for photos and the event schedule.
Look for more news about the event in our blogs.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum, Museum News
The Museum was closed from September 1-15 to enable us to put in two new exhibits on the second floor. The funding for these exhibits came from HE Governor Beckingham’s office and also from funds donated in the memory of Mr. Finbar Dempsey.
The new “19th Century Office and Government Room” showcases a typical colonial office from the 1800-1900s. Many of the objects were donated by the Hugh Hutchings family or from the Museum’s collection. Among the objects are an original TCI flag with the infamous “igloo”.
The second is an updated and expanded exhibit that blends the story of the US military on Grand Turk during the 1960s and 1970s and the role that Grand Turk played in the “Race for Space”. The exhibit now is in a brighter room, with new information about the bases and the men that served in TCI. Still planned is the addition of a monitor with photos and videos from ex-servicemen. We thank all of the men and families who have generously donated their memorabilia and stories to the Museum.
We will have a grand opening of the new exhibits in November and HE Governor Beckingham will do the honors of ribbon cutting.
Details and dates to follow, and make sure your membership is up to date as it will be a member’s only event!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum, Museum News
Summer Camp 2015 August 24-28, was a huge success! On the agenda numerous educational outings to keep our 8-12 year old campers smiling, inquiring and laughing as we started camp bright and early. With 4 days to see Grand Turk, the campers set out by foot, trolley and boat. First day they learned about our great Museum and Botanical and Cultural Garden guided by Bryan Naqq-Manco.
The next day, Mrs. Jill Beckingham opened her lovely home, Waterloo, for us to visit. The children learned about the house, which is 200 years old, and then enjoyed treats in the garden. Thank you also to Island Trams who transported the children to Waterloo and back!
Wednesday they were invited to the House of Assembly by Honourable Robert Hall, who is the Speaker of the House. The children learned all about the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands!
Thursday they walked along Front Street and met with numerous merchants. Unfortunately they didn’t have enough time to see all the merchants they had planned on visiting, but the kids learned a lot from Grand Turk Divers, Blue Water Divers, Turks Head Inn, Osprey Hotel, LIME and finished off with cookies from the Coral Café!
We had to postpone our annual Gibbs Cay outing due to weather, but we finally went on September 26 and had a great time! Thanks to Oasis Divers for taking us!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum, Children's Club News
On August 8 and again on August 15, Winston Parker of AND Construction came to the Museum campus in the Village at Grace Bay to cleanup the rubble left over from the construction of the wall surrounding the Caicos Heritage House garden. The wall was built using local materials and traditional methods. The cleanup is hugely appreciated and is an example of the voluntary community support for this important project highlighting the history of the Caicos Islands.
Thank you AND Construction for your continued support of the Museum!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum, Museum News
On Saturday August 1, 2015 we had a lovely visit from the Philippona family. You may recognize the name, as Ted Philippona donated his vast photo collection to the Turks and Caicos National Museum. Ted’s son, Derk and his family spent time going through the museum and seeing the new exhibits.
Our tour guide Fred Glinton remembered Ted Philippona when he lived on Grand Turk in the early 1960s, which made the tour even more special!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum