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Windmills

Support the Museum.

Help preserve the history of the islands.

Vanishing Windmills

Ruined windmills dot the landscape of Salt Cay, South Caicos, and Grand Turk.

Not so long ago, they helped the flow of brine and pickle between the salinas — salt ponds — that cover these islands. They are the lasting legacy of the Islands’ sea salt industry. Invariably, first time visitors comment on them. Like lighthouses, windmills cast a spell, reminders of a life that was, a life now gone.

Windmill pieces 1|108In December 1997, the Museum took a step towards recreating a full-scale working windmill. A small group recovered a critical windmill component — the cast-iron millhead with transmission gears and mill-vane hub. The millhead, weighing close to 200 pounds, performed a critical function. Turning on huge ball bearings, it allowed the tail of the mill to respond to changes in wind direction and pivot the head of the mill to keep the sails on the vanes properly trimmed to the wind. Big pinion gears transmitted the rotation of the mill’s vanes from a horizontal to a vertical shaft, sending the motion down the tower to where its axis was changed back to horizontal as it engaged the paddle wheel. At the end of the mill shaft, the big wooden mill vanes with their canvas sails radiated out of a big hub with four angled sockets. The hub and the millhead are a critical part of any windmill, and new ones, as far as can be determined, are no longer available.

Long the main source of income, the salt industry is one of the “big stories” in Islands’ history. A reconstructed windmill would stand as a memorial to those who worked for centuries under the brutal conditions prevailing in the salt trade. It would be a “super artifact,” one that is not only large but provokes an emotional response from visitors. As a working exhibit and kinetic sculpture, it would draw visitors as any “super artifact” does.

In the summer of 1996, the Museum compiled an informal inventory of the windmills. With the help of volunteers, we measured a mill in Hawk’s Nest Salina and another in Town Salina, then another — a rare survivor of the old carousel-type windmill, whose vanes rotated, as the name implies, like a merry-go-round.

Windmill pieces 2|109 We were on the lookout for a millhead bearing in good enough shape to exhibit and perhaps able to be reconditioned to resume work on top of a reconstructed windmill. We visited Great Salina and Hawk’s Nest to record mill sites and scout for usable millheads among the ruins of collapsed mills. Those we found were inevitably heavily corroded. Worse, they were inaccessible: It was a daunting prospect to consider cutting one free in the middle of a salina, and then carrying the heavy casting a long distance with treacherous footing to where it could be loaded on a truck.

One possibility remained …. a windmill standing on the edge of the North Salina, opposite the Guanahani Hotel. What we saw was not encouraging. Only the base of the mill was still standing. Then we saw the millhead lying in the salina. Amazingly, it was in good shape. Evidently, one of the 1996 hurricanes had toppled it, and corrosion was not advanced.

Turks & Caicos Utilities graciously provided a bucket truck and crew the next day. Once Dressel kept his promise to be the one to go into the muck and trash of the salina to fasten the cable, it took the TCU crew but a few minutes work to heave the bearing out. In a few minutes more, Dressel and Sherlin Williams had freed it of the rotten wooden mill tower and shaft.

TCU transported the millhead to the Museum’s lab, where it was off-loaded and washed. Sherlin Williams and Museum Chair Grethe Seim immediately set to work with scaling hammers, cleaning on the muck and corrosion. Meanwhile in the exhibit shop upstairs, Juan Rodriguez used the measured drawings to painstakingly build a model windmill in cedar.

While acquiring the millhead removed a big obstacle to recreating a windmill, the work is really only beginning. The millhead, if used in a replica mill, will require complete rebuilding in a machine shop. By some miracle the millheads may still in production or old stock parts may be available. We will only know if we can locate the original manufacturer. If all other avenues yield no results, it may even be necessary to use the recovered millhead to produce a mold and actually recast an entirely new one.

While the mill measured in Town Pond answered many questions, the parts that were missing posed others: Exactly how were the vanes and tail construced? How were the sails made and attached? Salt production on Grand Turk ceased nearly two generations ago, and the construction, maintenance, and opertaion of windmills ceased to be a concern for very many people a good while before that.

The millheads were custom-made to fit this particular mill design, so the plan for the mill as a whole either originated with the millhead manufacturer or plans were furnished to the foundry so that it could be designed to fit. Solving the mystery of the origin of the millhead is essential.

windmill model with Juan Rodriguez|110Once the mystery is solved, we will be well on the way to creating a replica of a salina windmill. What better memorial to those centuries of labor than a working exhibit of an object synonymous with salt-making?

Projects

  • Burrell Steam Traction Engine
  • Fort St. George
  • Slave Ship Trouvadore
  • Governor’s Cannon
  • Maravedi Cove
  • Molasses Reef Shipwreck
  • Sapodilla Hill
  • Southwest Harbor Bluff
  • Turks Islands Gates
  • Windmills
  • Occasional Papers Series

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The Museum is a publicly funded not for profit organization.

It is not a part of the TCI Government and receives no regular support from the Government. Only your Membership & Support makes it all possible. Become a member 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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