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Category: Museum News

Support the Museum.

Help preserve the history of the islands.

Find out what’s been happening at The Museum. Includes updated post of previous events, visitors, volunteers, our monthly newsletter and more!

School Visits to the Grace Bay Campus

Friday, 09 June 2017 by

Mills Institute
This term we were pleased to welcome the Grade One Hummingbirds and Bumble Bees Mills Institute on May 25, 2017 accompanied by their teachers Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Jhonna. They were a lively group, keenly interested in their topic the early settlers of the Turks and Caicos Islands. We may have some budding historians in this group.

Iris Stubbs Primary School
We were happy to welcome the grade 4 students of Iris Stubbs Primary School from the island of South Caicos on June 9, 2017. The group came in historic mode as they were dressed in commemorative Regatta 50th anniversary t-shirts as they prepared to celebrate the milestone of the longest running national festival. They were accompanied by teacher Ms. Forbes and parent Ms. Fulford. We always enjoy meeting and sharing with our young students as they prepare to take their place in this country.

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Governor Visits Provo Campus

Friday, 03 March 2017 by

His Excellency the Governor Dr. John Freeman accompanied by his wife Mrs. Corrine Freeman visited the Turks and Caicos National Museum’s Grace Bay Campus on 2nd March 2017. Museum Representative Mrs. Candianne Williams gave them a tour of the historical timeline in the Development Office which spans the history of the Turks and Caicos Islands from 200MBC to the the1900s. They also toured the Caicos Heritage House and Garden Exhibit.

The Governor said that he got a good sense of the history and cultural richness of the Turks and Caicos Islands from his visit to both the Museum in Grand Turk and the satellite campus in Providenciales and encouraged the museum to continue the good work particularly with the school groups and visitors.

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Great Great Grandson of Jeremiah Murphy Visits

Sunday, 03 January 2016 by

By Pat Saxton
Director

On New Year’s Eve the great-great grandson of our famous Dennis Jeremiah Murphy, whose life and adventures are featured in our new exhibit The Golden Age of Grand Turk, visited the Museum. Dennis R. Murphy and Charlene, his wife, came with their three children: Ashley, Tracy, and Dennis Jeremiah Murphy II.

Dennis-R.-Murphy-with-Denis-J-Murphy-web

Dennis R. Murphy posing with the likeness of his great great Grandfather the famous Jeremiah Murphy.

Dennis R. gave the Museum a family tree that we greatly appreciate receiving because of the Murphy family connection to the many people living on Grand Turk today. Tim Dunn from the “Salt Cay White House” stopped in to talk to Dennis because they are actually related! We hope that the Murphy family can come back and stay a bit longer so that we can really show them Grand Turk hospitality.

Thank you Dennis and Charlene, for all that you and your family have donated and the stories that you always share!

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FootSteps4Good Second Annual Event October 16-24

Wednesday, 14 October 2015 by

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.

Registration at the Road Runners desk in Provo.

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.

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Two New Exhibits and a Special Grand Opening

Wednesday, 30 September 2015 by
Working on a house that has almost 200 years of history isn't always easy.

Working on a house that has almost 200 years of history isn’t always easy.

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.

Neil Saxton and Charles Kesnel (seen here putting finishing touches on the John Glen exhibit) worked tirelessly to make sure we could open on September 16.

Neil Saxton and Charles Kesnel (seen here putting finishing touches on the John Glen exhibit) worked tirelessly to make sure we could open on September 16.

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!

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Tele Box Commandos Get It Done!

Tuesday, 25 August 2015 by

Commandos on the assault

We thought would take an army of volunteers to help refurbish the phone booth. Every inch had to be sanded down, a base coat applied, followed by a top coat, and then all the new windows and signs set in place. Enter Seamus Day … again.

Image-3

Ready for painting. Thanks guys!

Instead of an “Army” of volunteers he arranged for the Navy to help! The first weekend in August four Royal Marine commandos from HMS Lyme Bay arrived to help. When they left, after a day of hand-to-hand combat with the box, it was ready for painting!

Neil Saxton and Charlie Kesnel finished the job a day later. Now all we need is the antique phone! Read more about the history of the telebox in the Fall Times of the Islands.

Finishing touches on the paint.

Neil Saxton and Charles Kesnel applying the proper shade of “Postbox Red” to the TCI’s one and only telebox.

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Cacios Heritage House – Thank you AND Construction

Monday, 17 August 2015 by

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.

Winston

Cleaning up the area around the Caicos Heritage House garden wall after construction. Photo by Candianne Williams

Winston Parker of AND Construction clearing rubble away.

Winston Parker of AND Construction clearing rubble away. Photo by Candianne Williams

Thank you AND Construction for your continued support of the Museum!

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Update on the Tele Box

Friday, 10 July 2015 by

tele-box-1-MG_2744Thanks to all those that donated to refurbish our wonderful telephone box donated to the Museum by Seamus Day. So far we have collected $968 from movie nights and other donations towards the refurbishing costs, including shipping! Only $832 more to go.

When it is completed it will even have the old time beveled mirror and advertisements from that era on the backboard of the phone booth. Now all we need is a real phone!!

Watch for the Fall issue of the Astrolabe in the Times of the Islands for the complete story of how it came to be on Grand Turk, photos of this lovely relic from the 1930’s, and the special volunteers who are helping to restore it for the Museum!

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An Evening Under the Stars

Tuesday, 30 June 2015 by

On Friday June 19 the Turks and Caicos National Museum held a “Toast to the National’s Capital” wine tasting event at Waterloo. The Museum partnered with the Wine Cellar and Grand Turk Liquors along Chef Peter Redstone from Pelican Bay Restaurant in the Royal West Indies Resort.

Our wonderful hosts, HE Governor and Mrs. Beckingham welcomed guests who were then greeted by Anthony (Tony) Garland from the Wine Cellar in Providenciales with a glass of Santa Margherita Prosecco Brut.

Tony Garland serving a welcome glass of Brut

Tony Garland serving a welcome glass of Brut

From there, Tony took us on a worldwide adventure through the wonderful wine he brought to sample. From France, to South Africa, Italy, USA and Chile every wine tasting was accompanied by beautifully presented and scrumptious appetizers by Chef Redstone.

Guests enjoying the evening and appetizers

Guests enjoying the evening and appetizers

The setting in the gardens at Waterloo made the evening even more enjoyable. If that was not enough, the soft sounds from Dudley Been kept the evening on a wonderful pace.

There were raffle prizes to be won, and thanks to Grand Turk Liquors our guests had the chance to win one of three $75.00 gift certificates. The Museum also raffled off three chances to win a pair of TCNM inscribed wine glasses.

At one point Tony won a gift certificate and then had the crowd going as he auctioned off his prize. Thanks to Deborah Viera and Jack Sheery who split the gift certificate and a special dessert wine donated by the Wine Cellar, the raffle yielded $450.00!!

The Museum netted $1,575.00 from this wonderful evening.

Thanks to all who purchased tickets, and a BIG thank you to Tony Garland from The Wine Cellar, GT Liquors, Dudley Been, and of course our hosts, HE Governor and Mrs. Jill Beckingham. The TCNM team who worked throughout the evening, Cecile Wennick and Fred Glinton who manned the sign in table, Pat Saxton who was MC for the event, and Nikki Jennings who really got guests reaching into their pockets to purchase raffle tickets!

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A Toast to Our Nation’s Capital

Friday, 12 June 2015 by

Support the Museum and join us in a summer wine tasting hosted by H.E. The Governor and Mrs. Beckingham. July 19th @ 7pm Waterloo, Grand Turk

GT-Liquors-Waterloo-Save-th
To all who are away from the islands, we invite you to join us in “spirit” on Friday, June 19 and support our summer fundraiser. Purchase a virtual “ticket” or donate an amount of your choosing via our PayPal links below.

Virtual Wine Tasting Tickets

Donate at any level

 

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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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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

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

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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) 941-9358 Mobile (01 649) 247-2161
Grace Bay Hours: M-F 9am – 1 pm, closed holidays

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