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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Heritage Museum of The Bahamas (Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
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Nassau, New Providence– A new enriching attraction that will leave visitors more knowledgeable and appreciative of various eras in Bahamian history has opened in Nassau. The Heritage Museum of The Bahamas is located in the famous Mountbatten House on Nassau’s West Hill Street, across from the Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant. Mountbatten House was built approximately around 1850, and the new museum’s rooms are filled with artifacts and documents that satisfy one’s curiosity. The museum and is also part of what the owners, the Garzaroli family, call the “Foundation of Graycliff’s new Heritage Village.”
Developed by a family who strongly believe in culture and history, the Heritage Museum has historic information and artifacts that range from the pre-historic times to today, and reflect on eras in The Bahamas. The restoration of the Mountbatten home, took one year and reached 6 figures. The Museum is on the upper floor and the lower floor will house dining, entertainment and attractions.
“Everything’s original as possible and has been restored to reflect the original house, except for 2 partition walls,” states a proud Paola Garzaroli, a second-generation family member. “There is a gift store that sells authentic and replicas from the pirate days like nails, buttons, bottles, mustard balls as well as other items. You can even find shark teeth and souvenir t-shirts.”
Partnering with their friend, Hamilton White, a well know British antiques collector, White made many of his collections available through the Hamilton White Foundation. “Their plans seemed like a natural fit for me – the right people to work with, an incredible historical building and perfect timing for such a great opportunity,” said Mr White.
Back of Mountbatten House, Nassau (Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
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On the media tour, head tour guide Jermaine Gauntlett introduced the first jewel of the Museum; a slice of a pre-historic meteorite. He explained that it took 14 different laser drill bits to make 4 holes for the supporting legs that secure the piece to a pedestal. Other rooms held artifacts of sea life, 15th century furniture, merchant seals, clay pipes, swords, a walking cane made of a baby whale’s spine, documents, a dress that was worn by a plantation master’s wife and more.
The rooms reflected periods in Bahamian history such as piracy, maritime, slavery, World War II, persons like Lord Mountbatten, The Duke of Edinburgh, Winston Churchill as well as the late Nelson Mandela who visited The Bahamas and the Grammy-award winning Bahamen.
The relics give one a true appreciation of the times they derived and a wooden box that was purchase from an auction that is believed to once occupy the Anglican Church that once stood on the Graycliff property is part of the Museum.
Other features include Nassau Speed Week from the 1950’s and a replica of a general store from the early 1900’s with original goods and advertising, a native Bahamian out island hut and a revolving gallery where school children and professionals can exhibit.
Paolo Garzaroli who helped develop the Heritage Museum Of The Bahamas speaks about the British influence in Nassau. (Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
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“The project was to create an authentic Bahamian experience with the whole world,” said Paolo Garzaroli. “Heritage Museum Of The Bahamas is a place where you can get a historical glimpse of Nassau.”
Other plans for the Heritage Village include a microbrewery, patisserie and snack shop, and an art and crafts market. The world famous Graycliff Restaurant and Hotel is part of the Heritage Village as well as their chocolate factory, cigar factory and Humidor Churrascaria and culinary academy.
“The second generation of the Garzarolis continue to develop and preserve Bahamian history and culture – a now 40 year old tradition of this family when Enrico Gazaroli and his wife Anna Maria, first came to The Bahamas from Italy in the 1970’s, and restored the Graycliff property to create an internationally recognized five-star hotel and restaurant. In fact, the Graycliff property has a long-standing legacy of over 300 years of history, when in the 1700’s Pirate John Howard Graysmith traded in his days of piracy for land and built his home on West Hill Street, right next to the Governor General’s house, now known as Government House.”
The
Heritage Museum of The Bahamas is open from
Monday to
Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
Trying on ankle shackles (Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
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Shoes from the olden days (Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
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Christopher Columbus featured (Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
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(Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
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The Bahamas Weekly’s writer, Azaleta Ishmael-Newry poses next to a dress that belonged to a Plantation Master’s wife in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Mr Johnson, The Tribune Newspaper.)
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Bahamas Ministry of Tourism officials toured the Heritage Museum of The Bahamas. Shown in the photo from left to right are: Shavon Burnside, tour guide, Shannon Bruce, marketing manager, and Paolo Garzaroli of Graycliff, and Janet Johnson and Tommy Thompson of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. (Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
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The General Store (Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry)
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