Discovered by Spanish explorer Juan de Bermúdez, Bermuda was settled in 1612 by the British, an influence that still underlines much of the culture here. While there were no Indigenous inhabitants, today’s visitors to Bermuda find Portuguese, African and Caribbean roots woven into the rich island tapestry.
The National Museum of Bermuda at the Royal Naval Dockyard is an indoor/outdoor cultural and maritime history lesson, with the Dockyard itself filled with shops and attractions to explore. Historical landmark Fort Scaur was built to keep American naval forces at bay in the 1870s, while Fort St. Catherine in St. George’s dates to the 17th century. The nearby Bermuda Heritage Museum is worth ducking into for background on the island’s history of enslavement, also highlighting the accomplishments of Black Bermudians from pre-emancipation to today.
The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute is a museum and science centre anchored to fun exhibits on island history, marine life, shipwrecks and the Bermuda Triangle myth. The collection of retrieved shipwreck treasures in the lower level is quite spectacular.
