Historic places in Kingston

Historic places in Kingston

1. See

   Bob Marley Museum

   Filled with tons of memorabilia and Bob Marley's personal belongings, this museum was Bob Marley's recording studio and was his home until his death in 1981. The house is a preserved historical site; even the bullet holes from the attempted murder of Bob Marley remain. Every visitor will be added to a tour upon entry.

   Mon-Sat, tours last 1 hr, including a 20-min film. The first tour begins at 9:30AM and the last tour at 4PM·residents J$500, non-residents US$25 (credit cards accepted)

2. See

   Currency Museum

   Coin and Notes Museum

   In the Bank of Jamaica Building there's a museum showcasing the history of Jamaican money. There's a collection of old coins in banknotes on display.

   Mon–Fri 9AM–2PM

3. See

   National Gallery of Jamaica

   The museum features artwork by Jamaicans from throughout its history, from the native Taino Indians through the colonial period to works by modern artists. The gallery hosts its annual National Visual Arts Exhibition, which began in 1963 as a way to promote post-colonial art and to showcase the works of rising artists from Jamaica. Entrance fees are waved during the exhibition period.

   Tue-Thu 10AM-4:30PM, Fri 10AM-4PM, Sat 10AM-3PM·J$100, students and senior citizens over 65 may enter for J$50

4. See

   Port Royal

   Once known as the "Richest and wickedest city in the world", Port Royal was a notorious pirate haven in the 17th century. The most famous privateer (basically a pirate, but licensed by the British crown) who operated from Port Royal was Sir Henry Morgan who plundered Spanish vessels travelling in the Caribbean and even sacked Panama City. The city prospered as the pirates gathered riches, but a strong earthquake struck the area in 1692 sinking many ships in the harbour, killing many people, and leaving much of the city under the sea. Some claimed the quake was God's punishment for the evildoers of Port Royal. This disaster helped to establish Kingston as the new capital, and many of the survivors moved to Kingston. Although most of the buildings at the port today are not the original buildings, the walls of Fort Charles have been preserved since the rebuilding two years after the earthquake, Saint Peter's Church built in the early 18th century, and the ruins of Fort Rocky remain. There is also a museum to learn more about the history and see artifacts from its heyday. The site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025.

5. See

   Rock Fort

   Three centuries ago, this was the eastern end of the harbour. Rock Fort was established in 1694 as a protection against the French, and it was enlarged over the course of the 18th century. Now the ruins of it stand along the highway. Next to the ruins there's a mineral bath (Rockfort Mineral Bath) in a source that emerged in the 1907 earthquake.

6. See

   William Grant Park

   Former parade ground with a colourful history. In 1694 a fortification was built on this place, with the guns aimed at the harbour. It was torn down in 1870 and the place was turned into a parade ground, named Victoria Park after the queen. A statue of Queen Victoria was placed here, in addition to a gallows. In 1977 the park got its current name, and the queen's statue was joined by statues of Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley. In the end of the 1980s the parade grounds were remodelled into a park.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Kingston (CC BY-SA 4.0).