A bird identification guide with information on over 332 tropical birds and over 820 photographs

To find Natural Attractions such as caves, mud volcanos, savannahs and the Pitch Lake, go to our Natural Attractions Page. Information on the various waterfalls can be found on the Waterfalls Page, while the Beaches Page provides information on the beaches of Trinidad.

To find the locations referred to on this page in the overall geographic space of Trinidad, see the Trinidad Map. 

OffShore Islands

North West

Port of Spain

North Coast

East

North East

Central

South

South East

South West

General

Other places of interest can also be found on the Religious Sites Page, the Natural Attractions Page and the Birding Hotspots Page.

Galera Lighthouse

At the north eastern tip of Trinidad, east of Toco, Galera Point is a rocky outcrop where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic Ocean. Thick beds of quartzitic grits, which are very hard coarsely crystalline rocks, are intercalated among the schists to form a conspicuous headland. It is said that in the 17th century Amerindians threw themselves to their deaths from Galera Point rather than be captured by the Spanish. It is the destination for Orisha devotees, celebrating the Olukun Festival (Celebration of the Ocean), who on February 21 every year, start their pilgrimage from the Port of Spain lighthouse. On December 7th 1941, in the waters off Galera Point, two merchant ships carrying bauxite from Suriname were sunk by torpedoes from a German U boat.

The Toco lighthouse, built in 1897, stands tall on a promontory overlooking crashing waves. This lighthouse is a twin in design to the Chacachacare Lighthouse. On the Galera Lighthouse are the letters VR and J which commemorate the 50th jubilee of Victoria Regina. At certain times the lighthouse is open and with the permission of the lighthouse keeper you can ascend the steps. A park and picnic area have been developed around the lighthouse. There are numerous benches and picnic tables shaded by the spreading branches of almond and sea grape trees. As a result of the constant northeast trade winds the vegetation like chaparral is permanently bent to the south west.

Chacachacare

Chacachacare Island was named Chacachacare by the Amerindians and is the westernmost of the Bocas Islands which belong to Trinidad and Tobago. It lies in the Bocas del Dragón (Dragons' Mouth) between Trinidad and Venezuela. Originally named El Caracol (the Snail) by Christopher Columbus because of its shape, at various times Chacachacare has served as a cotton plantation, a whaling station and a leper colony. Between the period 1777 and 1794, cotton was the major agricultural export of Trinidad with Chacachacare being the largest producer. Up until 1810 cotton was still the major crop being produced on the island but a fall in prices and the boll weevil pest led to a decline in production.

The closeness of the island to Venezuela, being only seven miles from the mainland, meant that there was frequent movement between Venezuela and Chacachacare, particularly to the Venezuelan port of Guira. Venezuelan revolutionary Santiago Mariño who was educated in Port of Spain and whose family lived on Chacachacare, used the island as a base for his 1813 invasion of Venezuela.

By 1920, several hundred persons lived on Chacachacare, a school had been established with approximately 60 students and a church existed at La Chapelle Bay. In 1921, the government decided to establish a leper colony and appropriated all the land, forcing the inhabitants to leave. All persons with leprosy were required to live at Chacachacare. These patients were cared for by the Dominican Sisters and from 1945 by the U.S. Sisters of Mercy. Ten sisters died during their time on the island and are buried in a cemetery at Marine Bay on Chacachacare. The leprosarium lasted until the last patient left in 1984.

In 1943, part of the island was given to the US armed forces and a battalion of 600 men was based on the island. They built nine military barracks, installed coastal defense guns and built a road to the top of the 865-foot (260-meter) main peak. See our article on Former US Army Bases for more information.

This 900 acre island is 10 miles long (15 kilometers) and two miles wide at its widest. It comprises of eight beaches, a light house, a saltwater pond and dramatic cliffs. At present the island is uninhabited and used for camping and picnics with the most popular beach being La Tinta Bay. The island is often visited by yachts and there is a company that organizes day trips to the island plus water taxis will transport persons to the island. Chacachacare Island  has good anchorage at Chacachacare Bay and La Tinta Bay on the west side. If you land at Chapelle Bay there's a leisurely walk to the Salt Pond with lovely views of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Paria. The Salt Pond made up of hypersaline water has marshy fringes which promote the growth of peculiar trees like the campecho - the bread and cheese tree.  

One of the attractions on Chacachacare is the Lighthouse, which  is identical to the lighthouse at Galera Point in Toco. The walk to the lighthouse is an uphill hike along a paved road. It is possible to visit the buildings of the former leper colony and from Perruquier Bay one takes the road to the Lighthouse and then turns right immediately on the first bend as the road climbs uphill. The track to the former Leper colony is narrow and proceeds along the side of the hill.

Various parts of the leper colony are still standing and as you enter Perruquier Bay, the former doctor's house can been seen on the northern side in Rust Bay while the remains of the nun's quarters can be seen on the southern side climbing the hills of La Chapelle Bay.

San Diego Islands

These islands which are sometimes referred to simply as the Diego Islands, comprise of two islets that lie between the Bocas Islands and the Five Islands.

These islands are composed of limestone being the remnants of a reef. They are a mile west of the Five Islands and directly opposite Point Gourde in Chaguaramas. At the change of the tides and when the there is a prevailing east wind, the currents between the islands and Point Gourde is strong.

Kronstadt Island is eleven and three quarter acres and was previously known as Begorrat Island. During the period 1850 to 1970, limestone was mined from the island and it was also used as a holiday resort. Today the island is a Wild Life Refuge and part is used for the processing of barytes for the oil industry.

It is believed that from approximately 1854 to 1875, Carrera Island was used as a convict depot with the prisoners being used to quarry limestone that was used for road building. In 1877 construction of a permanent prison was begun. Carrera Island remains today a prison island.

Five Islands

The Five Islands are a group of actually six small islands lying west of Port of Spain in the Gulf of Paria. They are also known as Las Cotorras.

These islands are the remnants of a raised reef and composed of limestone.

Nelson Island is famous as the disembarkation point and quarantine station for indentured immigrants to Trinidad and Tobago during the period 1866 to 1917. During this period 2,645 Chinese immigrants and 114,000 Indian immigrants were processed through the island. It is Trinidad and Tobago's equivalent of Ellis Island in New York. Those who had contagious diseases were transferred to Lenagan island. The first buildings on Nelson Island were actually constructed by the British in 1802 using slave labour. The buildings formed patt of a military facility.

During World War I, a gun emplacement was built at the eastern end of the island and a causeway to Rock Island to the west. In the 1930s Nelson Island was used as a detention center for prisoners, among them Tubal Uriah Butler. During the Second Wold War, all persons with Austrian or German passports, who were mainly refugee Jews, were interred on the five Islands with the men being kept on Nelson Island and the women on Caledonia Island. Nelson Island became a detention center again in 1970 following the Black Power Revolution when 50 Black Power activists were housed there. The former detention centers are still standing on Nelson Island.

Caledonia Island was an officially designated place for performing marriage ceremonies. In 1840 Lord Harris spent his honeymoon on the island with his Trinidadian bride. On November 13th 1957, Dr. Eric Williams (the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago) married Dr Mayleen Mook Sang on Caledonia island.

Gasparee Island

Gaspar Grande, also known as Gasparee Island is a mile and a half long by half mile in width, totaling 129 hectares (319 acres) and reaches a height of 339 feet (103 metres). The island is approximately three-quarters of a mile south of the Coast Guard station at Staubles Bay. The island was granted to Gaspar de Percin la Roque in 1783 by Governor Chacon and over time became known as Gaspar Grande. The island is today primarily a vacation spot with numerous holiday homes and its most famous attraction are the Gasparee Caves.

Gaspar Grande has had an interesting past and the remnants of its past are other reasons to visit. During the period 1826 to 1864, the island had a whaling industry with Point Baleine, located on the western end, being a whaling station. The translation of the French name "Point Baleine" means whaling point. At the top of the island are the remnants of a Spanish fort constructed in 1796. During World War I, a 4.7 inch cannon was installed on the ridge overlooking Point Baleine. During World war II another cannon was installed on the ridge. At the end of the war, two 6 inch guns replaced the original 4.7 inch cannons. These guns are still present on the island and are a 25 minute walk from Point Baleine.

Gasparee is a very dry limestone island with average annual rainfall of under 40 inches. It nevertheless has interesting flora and fauna. On the island can be seen Saltfishwood and Naked Indian trees along with Silk Cotton and wild Balata trees. Throughout the island cactus are found. There are a dozen species of lizards including the Twenty-four hours, Turnip-tailed Gecko and Iguana. There are several species of insect and fruit eating bats. There is also the Noctilio leporinus (fishing bat) which emerge at dusk to skim the surface of the water to capture sardines. The bird population includes Yellow-headed Parrots, Rufous-necked Wood-rails, White-tipped Doves, Golden Orioles, Tropical Mockingbirds, Palm Tanagers, White-lined Tanagers, Copper-rumped Hummingbirds, Rufous Night Jars and Pigmy Owls.

Chaguaramas Historical Sights

On some maps the road to Macqueripe Bay is shown as the Macqueripe Mail Road and that is because prior to the British conquest, the mail for Trinidad was landed at Macqueripe Bay, to avoid sailing through the Bocas, and then brought overland along this road. On the Macqueripe Road can be seen the remains of St Chad's Anglican Church which was built in 1850 and then rebuilt in 1875 and again rebuilt in 1915. Near to St Chad's is the former village of Mount Pleasant which was created by the former slaves after Emancipation. Throughout the village are various trees including mango, coconut, breadfruit, citrus, sapodilla, banana and avocado. This must indeed have been a pleasant place with all these fruit bearing trees and the La Cuesa River nearby.

Throughout Chaguaramas can also be seen many of the buildings that were built by the US Army when Chaguaramas was a military base during World War Two. In particular there are numerous bunkers that are built into the earth. See our article on Former US Army Bases for more information.

Chaguaramas Military History Museum

Just off the Western Main Road in Chaguaramas, immediately after the Convention Center and immediately before the Coastguard heliport lies the Chaguaramas Military History and Aerospace Museum. Consisting of 12,000 square feet of indoor displays along with outdoor items and memorials on a 4-acre site, the museum traces the military history of Trinidad. Beginning with the Amerindians and coming up to the present day, this museum chronicles both the raids and battles that took place in Trinidad along with the involvement of Trinidadians in wars that took place in other parts of the world. The use of Trinidad as a planning or staging area for attacks on other countries is also highlighted.

There is an extensive section devoted to the Conquistadors and the three hundred years of Spanish rule, culminating in the British capture of the island in 1797. The exhibits examine the British Colonial period of the Napoleonic Wars and its effect on South America leading the visitor up to the end of the 19th century, tracing racing the History of Military affairs on the island. The period of the First World War, through the Second World War and up to Operation Desert Storm are showcased.

Within the museum are samples of the weapons used in each era and the uniforms of the various military units. There are artifacts, models, photographs, documents and vehicles on display. There are articles giving extensive coverage of each period and personal mementos giving insights into the life and feelings of the men-at-arms.  The coverage is so wide and interesting that it is possible to spend most of the day reading the articles.

Two of the highlights of a visit to the Chaguaramas Military History Museum are the recreation of a pirate raid on St Joseph (the former capital) and the recreation of the trenches of the First World War. As the visitor walks through these recreations you can almost feel as though you are present in the actual battle.

The Museum opens daily from 9am to 5pm and can be contacted at 634-4391. There is a small admission fee.

River Estate Museum

This museum is located in the Diego Martin Valley which is named after the river that flows through the valley and was discovered by the Spaniard Don Diego Martin de Baena. The museum traces the history of the river and as a consequence the history of the valley. In particular it looks at the history of agriculture in the valley and the diverse races that were attracted to the valley. On its grounds still exists the original Water Wheel used for grinding sugar cane and some of the cast-iron kettles used for boiling the sugar. There are numerous photographs showing the importance of coffee and cocoa to the development of Diego Martin. The museum is at the northern end of the valley on the Diego Martin Main Road, shortly after the intersection with St. Lucien Road.

Diego_Martin_Water_Wheel

Just across from the River Estate Museum is probably the only remaining complete water wheel in Trinidad.

Built of cast iron and installed around 1835, this wheel powered the rollers that crushed the sugar canes from the River Estate lands. The water for turning the wheel came from the Diego Martin River which flowed nearby. The water wheel at Diego Martin is the undershot type where the water would flow under the wheel and in striking the blades at the bottom of the wheel cause the wheel to turn. With many undershot water wheels  a flowing stream was often dammed in order to maintain a steady supply of water for the mill; the dammed water would form a mill pond.

Today the river still flows nearby and the original walls for the water retention pond are still standing, with the mill pond now an area for relaxation.

North Post

Many individuals who visit the Diego Martin Valley never realise that the ocean is literally just around the corner. However the northern end of the valley overlooks the Caribbean Sea and ships approaching Trinidad from the north can be clearly seen from its ridges. The Spanish governors recognised the strategic importance of this and established an observation post on a 741 foot ridge that has come to be called North Post. After the British capture of Trinidad in 1797 they were concerned about attempts to retake the island and also about attacks by the French. As a result in 1804, the British Governor, Brigadier-General Sir Thomas Hislop began creating a series of fortifications around Trinidad that included Fort Abercromby, Fort George and on Cumberland Hill. North Post was made into a signal station, which through the use of flags could send signals to Fort George, which in turn would relay the message to the officials in Port of Spain. With the passage of time, the defensive role of North Post subsided and eventually it became the site for a marine radio installation that allowed ships at sea to communicate with Trinidad. The communications role of North Post continues to this day with TSTT having an installation on the site of the original observation post.

In addition to being a place of interest through its historic significance, North Post provides magnificent views of the Caribbean Sea and the rugged coastline of our North Coast. During the annual Great Race (powerboat race from Trinidad to Tobago), crowds gather on the ridge to see the boats as they race along the coast. On a clear day the island of Grenada can be seen from North Post. This location is also the start of a hike to Macqueripe. To get to North Post you proceed along the Diego Martin Main Road, going past the River Estate Museum  to the end of the road.

Fort George

Commanding the heights overlooking St James lies Fort George. Built by the British in 1804 as part of a series of fortifications that included Fort Abercromby, North Post and fortifications on Cumberland Hill, Fort George was considered the last major defense before the Port of Spain Harbour. From its height of 1,200 feet, artillery shells could be lobbed onto ships attempting to enter Port of Spain Harbour or land at Mucurapo. The British understood the importance or preventing a landing at Mucarapo as that was their landing point for their invasion in 1797. Mucurapo was also the landing point for the Spanish conquistador Sedeno in his invasions of Trinidad in 1531. The British constructed several batteries for their cannon rising up the hill. Today there is an apartment complex on the hill that is called The Battery as a result. The ordinances (ammunition) for Fort George were kept at Cocorite during the 1820’s and would have given rise to the name, Powder Magazine, now bestowed on part of the area.

Museum of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service

The Museum of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service chronicles the history of the police service from its formation in 1859 to the present day. The development of the various arms of the service, biographies of past Commissioners of Police, changes in uniforms over the years and significant moments in Police history are all outlined in this small museum. There is even a diary recording the apprehension of various criminals in the 1800's.

The Museum is located in the former Police Headquarters building on St Vincent Street, Port of Spain and is open on Tuesdays from 10am to 6pm and on Saturdays, from 10 am to 3 pm. Admission is free and guided tours are available.

Central Bank Money Museum

The Central Bank Money Museum is located on the ground floor of the Eric Williams Financial Complex, Independence Square, Port of Spain (known locally as the Twin Towers), and is open from Tuesday to Friday. Guided tours take place twice a day, at 9.30 am and 2 pm. Special tours can be arranged. Admission and tours are free. For more information, call 625-2601 ext. 2400 or 2120.

The Eric Williams Financial Complex   was officially opened on March 29th, 1986. As the Twin Towers are located on reclaimed land and Trinidad is susceptible to earthquakes, special architectural designs had to be done for these two, twenty-two story towers. Dr Rollin Betrand in an article called A GEOLOGICAL WALK AROUND INDEPENDENCE SQUARE PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD outlined the measures. "1900 piles were driven to an average depth of 80' with 560 below each tower. The pile cap under each tower is a cellular raft' which is a combination of 9' x 6' beams and an 18" slab. All columns on the towers are tied to this as water storage for the building is also located in the basement for additional dead weight. The cross braces and the core walls in each of the towers were designed to resist earthquake forces with the former taking 15% of the forces and the latter taking 80-85%".

Port of Spain Museum

Nestled on the southern side of Port of Spain is a small museum that traces the history of the city of Port of Spain. Located on South Quay, this museum is housed on the grounds of the former Fort San Andres. Early records indicate that Fort San Andres was established some time before 1777 as a gun battery on an island in the Port of Spain harbour. During the reclamation work of 1832 that portion of the harbour was filled to create solid land.

The Museum is open between 9am to 5pm from Tuesday to Friday. The history of Port of Spain is outlined from its beginnings as the Amerindian (Arawak) village that Walter Raleigh saw in March 1595 to the present day. Through the use of storyboards with numerous photographs, significant events are brought to life. Individuals who were prominent in the life of the city are featured and there are several artifacts from the city.

National Museum

Established in 1892 as the Royal Victoria Institute, the National Museum and Art Gallery is situated at the top of Frederick Street in Port of Spain, opposite Memorial Park and just south of the Queen's Park Savannah. The building was called the Victoria Institute in honour of Queen Victoria. It was destroyed by fire in 1920 and rebuilt in 1923. The Museum is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Museum manages a collection of some 10,000 items, including a collection of paintings by Michel-Jean Cazabon. Among the many items on display in seven major galleries are petroleum and geological exhibits, the permanent national art collection, and a small gallery on Trinidad's Carnival arts. Periodically the museum hosts exhibitions by visiting artists. On its grounds is a pillar erected in January 1918 to mark the site of the Toll Gate which was discontinued in 1878.

Toll_Gate_Monument

Beginning in 1846 the Eastern Main Road was converted to a Toll Road and anyone desirous of travelling from Port of Spain to Arima had to pay a toll for using the road. At the time it was the main mode of transportation for travelling to the east of Trinidad and remained so until the opening of the railway in 1876. Even after the railway it held a pre-eminent position, as it was the only road route for eastern travel, until the construction of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway.

The tolls on travel on the Eastern Main Road remained until 1878. In 1918, a Toll Gate Monument was erected to commemorate the Toll Gate. Today that monument can be seen on the grounds of the National Museum.

Memorial Park

Memorial Park was created to honour those individuals from Trinidad and Tobago who died in the two World Wars from 1914 - 1918 & 1939 - 1945. Located between Frederick and Charlotte Streets, just below the Queen’s Park Savannah and across the street from the National Museum,  the park is a peaceful place on most days with the four walkways leading to the Cenotaph at the center.

At the base of the cenotaph inscribed on bronze plaques are the names of those who died in the wars and the branch of the armed forces in which they served. Also inscribed are the names of those who served in the British West India Regiment. The park is an ideal setting to sit and reflect on the fortunate circumstances in our lives as there are benches along the walkways and flowering trees around the perimeter.

Queen's Park Savannah

The Queen's Park Savannah is the oldest recreation ground in the West Indies. This site was formerly the St. Ann's Estate which was purchased from the Peschier family by the City Council in 1817. A small section of the site was reserved by the Peschier family as a burial ground for family members and remains so to this day. In the early 1800s the Savannah was not envisioned as an area for recreational pursuits but was purchased as part of the estate for the governor's official residence and as a public pasture for grazing domestic stock. The Governor's residence was never constructed on the land but eventually on property to the north of the Savannah.

During the early 1900's an electric tramway provided a "scenic tour" (4 km) around the perimeter of the park at 2 cents per trip and it was not until 1950 that this facility was removed due to the protests from citizens who claimed that the tram added unnecessary noise and congestion to the otherwise peaceful ambience.

The area known today as the "Hollows" was in 1841 a reservoir that had been dug for the purpose of supplying Port of Spain with water. The water was run from the St Ann's River through a channel in the Botanic Gardens that is now known as Nutmeg Ravine.

Gingerbread House

Situated on the Queen's Park Savannah at 12 Queen's Park West, immediately before All Saints Church, is Boissiere House, which is also known as the Gingerbread House. Built in 1904 by Mr. Charles Boissiere as a token of his love for Alice his wife, this house has developed its alternate name of Gingerbread House because of the style of fretwork that adorns the lower edge of the roof.

Magnificent Seven

On the western side of the Queen's Park Savannah are several buildings that are collectively called the Magnificent Seven. Built during a time of economic prosperity when cocoa was king, these historic buildings are lovely examples of colonial architecture. In 1988 the Magnificent Seven buildings at Queen's Park West were listed by the Organisation of American States as a historic district on the Register of Monuments of the Greater Caribbean.

The Northernmost of the six buildings along Maraval Road and Queen's Park West is Stollmeyer's Castle. Construction began in 1902 and was completed in 1904. A Scottish architect Robert Gillies, from the firm of Taylor and Gillies designed it and the Scottish influence was predominant in the design. It is said that the structure of the house was patterned after a wing of Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The limestone in the walls was obtained from the Laventille quarries.

The house was built by Charles Fourier Stollmeyer. However, Mrs. Stollmeyer, who had simple taste, found the building much too elaborate for her fancy, and she and her husband did not move into it. The house was given to their son, Conrad C. Stollmeyer, who was about to be married and who moved into the house in 1904. The building was acquired from Mr. Mahabir by the Trinidad and Tobago Government in 1979.

The Archbishop's House found at 27 Maraval Road, is the official residence of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Port of Spain. The structure was built in 1903 by the fifth Archbishop of Port of Spain, Patrick Vincent Flood and is influenced mainly by Byzantine style. There is also a touch of early Renaissance architecture in the building as evidenced by the elaborate crenellation on the top of the tower that bears medieval connotations. The marble and red granite used in the building came from Ireland and the cedar and greenheart used for the paneling, staircase and floors were obtained locally. At the time of its construction the Archbishop thought that in keeping with the dignity of his office,  he would build a palatial residence. In the four points of the square tower, Archbishop Flood tried to symbolize the four-square authority of the Church: one, holy, catholic and apostolic.

In 1968 extensive renovations were carried out on the building by architect Sonny Sellier, and contractor Rev. Father Kevin Devenish. After its completion in 1969, Monsignor Anthony Pantin, the first Trinidad-born Archbishop, took up residence there. Since renovation, as one approaches the entrance, there is a Coat of Arms - the Spirit of the Holy Ghost looking down on the Three Hills of Trinidad. Underneath a cross is the motto: Omnia Omnibus (All things to all men).

The most modest of the Magnificent Seven, Hayes Court was constructed in 1910 and named after Bishop Thomas Hayes, who was the second Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago. It is said that the building was designed to reflect a combination of the quiet graciousness of the French and English country house design, with high ceilings, mahogany staircase, wrought-iron fretwork, and wood paneling.

What do Buenos Ayres, the Manjack mine in Vistabella and the fourth lot of land on Queens Park West have in common? They were all owned by Lucien Francois Ambard. Designed by a French architect in the French Baroque Colonial style with marble from Italy and tiles from France, Lucien R Ambard constructed his home at the Queen's Park Savannah. Because of financial failure and the inability to meet the mortgage payments to Gordon Grant & Company, the Ambard family lost the house in 1919. It was subsequently sold to a Pointz Mackenzie, who also lost it in 1923 under circumstances similar to that of Ambard. Again the property fell back in the hands of Gordon Grant.

An American businessman, William Pelligrew, and his family rented the house from Gordon Grant and lived there until 1940. In that year, the house was sold to Mr. Timothy Roodal for $24,000. The building has since been named Roomor - an abbreviated version of two family names - Roodal and Morgan.

Built in 1904, "Mille Fleurs" is situated at No. 23 Maraval Road. "Mille Fleurs" is in the style of a typical town-house of the period, and its architecture may be referred to as early French Renaissance, with wrought iron fretwork. The house was apparently built for Mrs. Enrique Prada, who gave it the name "Mille Fleurs", which suggests it may have been surrounded by flowers. The house is presently owned by the Government and undergoing restoration.

The foundation stone for Queen’s Royal College was laid on November 11, 1902 by Sir Courtenay Knollys, the then Acting Governor. The College was opened on March 25, 1904. The building was designed by DM Hahn, chief draughtsman in the Department of Public Works, who was himself a QRC old boy and the father of QRC boys. The original school formed in 1859 was called Queen's Collegiate School and was located opposite Lord Harris Square. In 1870, the school became the Queen's Royal College and was housed in the supper room of the Prince's Building.

The Main Block is in German Renaissance-style architecture, as is very evident by its solidness and ornateness. The clock in the  building was presented to the school by William Gordon Gordon in 1913. The Science Block was opened in 1939, the North Block in 1940 and the West Block in 1956.

Whitehall was designed by its first owner in Corsican style with Venetian influence and built by James Moore a builder from Barbados. Moore used natural white sandstone imported from Barbados, in the construction. The building took from 1902 to 1904 while the roof was completed in 1910. The building is today owned by the Government and used as part of the office of the Prime Minister.

The Magnificent Seven are not the only surviving examples of colonial architecture to be found in Trinidad. In addition to the President's House, Knowlsey and the Red House shown below, the section Other Colonial Architecture provides some samples of the architecture of that period.

Botanical Gardens

The Botanic Gardens are located in Port of Spain on the northern side of the Queen's Park Savannah. The gardens were established in 1818 by Governor Woodford and his gardener David Lockhart was assigned to fill it with specimens from around the world. These gardens occupy 25 hectares of landscaped grounds and are open everyday from 6am to 6pm.

Within the gardens is a small cemetery that was reserved for Trinidad's governors, with the earliest burial record being  from 1819 of William Souper. The cemetery also contains the grave of the wife of the Bristish Governor Sir George Fitzgerald Hill, who died in November 1836 and asked to be buried in the Botanic Gardens. When Sir George died in March 1839, he was buried beside his wife.

Also buried in this cemetery is Sir Solomon Hochoy who was the last British Governor of Trinidad and Tobago and the first non-white Governor. Upon the attainment of Independence in 1962, he was appointed as Governor-General, a post he held until 1972. Sir Solomon Hochoy was born on 20 April 1905 in Jamaica, and arrived in Trinidad at the age of 2. He grew up in the village of Blanchisseuse and after retirement he returned to Blanchisseuse where he spent the remainder of his life. He died on 15 November 1983.

Emperor Valley Zoo

The Emperor Valley Zoo is located in Port of Spain on the Queens Park Savannah, adjacent to the Botanical Gardens. It opens daily from 9am to 6pm.

President's House

The President's House is located on the northern side of the Queen's Park Savannah, adjacent to the Botanic Gardens. During the period when Trinidad was a British Crown Colony it was the home of the Governor. During the period 1st May 1958 to 31st May 1962, it was the residence of the Governor-General of the Federated West Indies, Lord Hailes. From 4^th September 1962, the building was used as a Museum and Art Gallery until December 1965, at which time the first Governor of an independent Trinidad and Tobago, Sir Solomon Hochoy, moved into the residence. On 1^st August 1976, when Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic, (the occasion is observed on 24^th September), the Governor-General's House (subsequently designated "The President's House") became the residence of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with President Ellis Clarke as the first President.

The grounds on which the President's House is located were formerly the Hollandais Estate and in 1819 the Governor, Sir Ralph Woodford bought the property on behalf of the Cabildo. He renovated the existing estate house, which was located slightly in front of the site of the present house, and called it "St Ann's Cottage". In 1873 Governor James Robert Longden began construction of the present President's House and it was completed in 1876 by Governor Sir Henry Turner Irving. It is believed that Longden designed the building in an "L" shape as a remembrance to himself.

Built on a super structure of iron and steel, the elegant stonework of the facade is local blue limestone from the Picadilly and Laventille quarries.

Knowlsey

Knowlsey Building on Queen's Park West on the eastern end of the Queen's Park Savannah, presently houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Built in 1904, this building occupies the entire block from Queen's Park West to Albion Street, between Chancery Lane and Dundonald Street. It was designed and constructed in 1904 by Taylor Gillies, at a cost of $100,000 for William Gordon Gordon, a Scotsman who grew wealthy by operating businesses in Trinidad. It has been recorded that the building might have been named after the residence of Gordon's friend in Cheshire, Lord Derby.

The building is predominantly Italian and German in architecture, and has been referred to as a "sandwich of blue stone and brick". When originally constructed the marble on the gallery which surrounds the ground floor was imported from Italy, and the wood for the beautiful staircase of purple heart came from Guyana. The ceilings on the ground floor are of plaster of Paris and the gesso work is that of an Italian craftsman who did the work on the ceiling in the Council Chamber in the Red House, and in the Stollmeyer's house.

Red House

The building known as the Red House is the site of the the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located opposite Woodford Square and bounded by Abercromby, Knox, Hart Streets. Construction of this building began in 1844 and the southern wing was completed in 1848. During the British colonial period they were known as the Government Offices. The building was burnt in 1849 when citizens objected to a clause that was being debated by the Cabildo that would have required debtors to have their heads shaved and wear prison clothes. In 1903 these offices were completely destroyed by fire in what were known as the Water Riots. The rebuilding began in 1904 and was completed in 1907. On 27th July 1990, the Prime Minister and other members of parliament were held hostage in the building during a short-lived coup-d-etat.

In 1897 in honour of the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria, the building was painted red and has been painted that colour ever since. The design of the building was done by Daniel M Hahn, chief draughtsman in the Department of Public Works, who was a past student of Queen's Royal College. The design of the building reflects a Corinthian order in its columns and half columns.

Former Police Headquarters

Located across the street from the Red House on St. Vincent Street in Port of Spain is the former Police Headquarters. Constructed in 1876, at a cost of 90,000 pounds, on the site of the barracks of the West India Regiment, it served as police headquarters for over 100 years. It contained a residence for the head of the force as well as quarters for the volunteer fire brigade and the volunteer corps. At one time, the stipendiary magistrate of Port of Spain held his daily court there.

Built of local limestone from the Piccadilly Quarries in Laventille it was burnt in 1882 as a result of a mishap in the lamp room and rebuilt in 1884. It was again gutted by fire in 1990 as a result of an attempted coup and rebuilt in 2003. The building is in the form of a square designed around a central courtyard. In the rebuilding an effort was made to ensure that those parts that are new matched the other sections that were still of the original construction.

The building is still in use at the present and houses several police departments as well as the Police Service Museum.

Other Colonial Architecture

While the Magnificent Seven are the best known examples of colonial architecture in Trinidad, throughout the country there survives many historic buildings from earlier periods in our history. Several of these buildings originally constructed as residences have been converted to offices but the exteriors have been maintained with the original design.

The streets around Lord Harris Square in Port of Spain are one area where you can see several examples of earlier buildings. In the immediate vicinity of the square on Abercromby, New and Pembroke Streets are several buildings dating to earlier in our history. While smaller in scale than the other mansions at Queen's Park West, they survive and continue to exhibit their splendor.

Other examples found in Port of Spain are on Victoria Avenue, Keate Street and Queen's Park South. Even as 21st century edifices of concrete and steel begin to tower above them, these buildings retain their beauty.

Victoria Square in Port of Spain is also bordered by buildings that reflect the colonial style of construction. During early morning and early evening periods, visitors to Victoria Square are blessed by the sight and sound of wild Orange Winged Amazon Parrots and wild Yellow Fronted Parrots.

A beautiful example of the French style of building during the late 1800's and early 1900's can be found on the corner of Sweet Briar Road and Elizabeth Street in Port of Spain.

It has been said that unlike the wealthy of English extraction, those of French heritage chose to keep their wealth in Trinidad and constructed buildings where they could freely entertain their friends. One feature of these buildings is the large verandah that usually spans the entire house.

The former capital of Trinidad, St Joseph, is another location where older buildings dating back to colonial times can be seen.

Cabildo_Building

On Sackville Street in Port of Spain, sandwiched between the Police Headquarters building and the office of the Attorney General is a small building called the Cabildo Building. The Cabildo was an institution established during the time when Trinidad was a Spanish colony. It was in fact the earliest semblance of Local Government in Trinidad. Seven of the twelve members of the Cabildo were elected by the taxpayers. The Cabildo had wide executive powers, performing a wide range of functions with ecclesiastical, executive, judicial, fiscal, economic and military powers. The Cabildo appointed chief judges on the island, supervised markets, scavenged and repaired streets, controlled the police, the Royal Goal, the admission of physicians and surgeons, and levied duties and taxes on grog shops.

There is a widely held belief that this building was the office of the Royal Cabildo. We know however that up to 1808, the Cabildo Building was situated on Charlotte Street, a short distance from Queen Street, on the right as you walk north. In 1808 the Great Fire of Port-of-Spain completely destroyed the town including the Cabildo Building. We also know that in 1815, the Cabildo purchased a house on the corner of Brunswick Square (now Woodford Square) which eventually became the Cabildo Building (Town Hall). It is therefore likely that this building either housed some of the functions of the Cabildo or was the meeting place of the Cabildo during the period between 1808 and 1815. We also know that in 1845 the building housed the Registrar of Deeds.

Woodford Square

Situated in the heart of the city, Woodford Square is bordered by Frederick Street on the East, Abercromby Street on the West, Hart Street on the South and Knox Street on the North.

Woodford Square was first known as the Place of Souls by the Amerindians who fought a bloody battle on this open space. The St Ann's River ran through this open space and down to the sea. The course of the river was later changed to what is today called The Dry River and the riverbed in the Place of Souls was filled up. With the coming of the French settlers to the island, they called the Place of Souls - Place Des Ames. Place Des Ames means place of souls.

Place Des Ames later became known as Brunswick Square. It is believed that because Brunswick Square was used as a parade ground by the soldiers many of whom were Germans that the square was named after the German soldiers. 

In 1813  Governor Sir Ralph Woodford arrived in Trinidad and he immediately began rebuilding the town and laid out the square. He commissioned the German botanist, Baron Schack, to fill the square with flowering trees. In 1866 a fountain was put in the center of the Square as a gift from George Gregor Turnbull of Glasgow, Scotland. In 1892 new heavy railings were put up around the square. These are the ones we see today. In 1917 a bandstand was built and opened by Dr E. Prada, the then Mayor of Port of Spain. At the opening of the bandstand the name of the square was changed from Brunswick Square to Woodford Square for patrotic reasons (Brunswick being a German name and World War I was in progress) and to honour the Governor Sir Ralph Woodford.

On November 7th 2007, Woodford Square was used for the swearing-in ceremony for the Prime Minister, Patrick Manning. This was the first time that the ceremony had been held in public.

Over the years, people have called Woodford Square by different names: 'The University of Woodford Square', 'The People's Parliament'. It has been and continues to be a place where lively debate takes place everyday.

Portuguese Association

On Richmond Street Port of Spain, just before the intersection with Duke Street is a building with a sign that reads "Associação Portuguesa". This unimposing structure is a place of interest because it is one of the few remaining buildings that gives a hint of the immigration of a group of individuals that have significantly impacted the business life of Trinidad and our culinary traditions.

In 1834 with the abolition of slavery, the sugar planters were desperate for labour and a group of twenty-five Portuguese labourers was brought from the Azores. These individuals did not last in Trinidad and either died or returned to their native land within two years. In 1846, the planters again tried Portuguese labourers and brought 219 persons from Madeira. It is possible that the planters chose Madeira because it is an island archipelago off the west coast of Morocco in Africa and they may have thought that being so close to Africa these Portuguese could endure Trinidad's climatic conditions. During this period Madeira was undergoing economic hardship and these individuals volunteered to go to Trinidad in the hope of a better life. During 1846 and 1847, additional Portuguese labourers were brought to Trinidad from Madeira. The majority of the Portuguese did not remain working on the sugar estates for very long as, (fortunately for them) they had not signed any indentureship papers (unlike the later Indian laborers). Most of the Portuguese immigrants either died, became small shopkeepers (especially of rum shops) or became involved in cocoa.

Two other significant groups of Portuguese came to Trinidad. In 1846 a group of Portuguese Presbyterians fled to Trinidad from Madeira to escape persecution from Catholic Portuguese. More detail is provided on this group on the Religious Sites Page. According to Jo-Anne S. Ferreira in her work The Portuguese of Trinidad, between 1856 and 1858, there was immigration to Trinidad from the Cape Verde Islands of approximately 100 Portuguese who were of Negroid origin rather than Caucasian.

Through hard work, these Portuguese immigrants developed their small shops into large commercial enterprises and also introduced Trinidad to olive oil and garlic pork.

Treasury Building

The Treasury Building is located on the western end of the Brian Lara Promenade (formerly called Independence Square). It was previously the site of the Central Bank, which is now located across the Promenade at the Twin Towers. In 1831, the original Treasury Building was constructed under the direction of the British Governor Sir Lewis Grant. For many years it was also the residence of the British Governors and a rum bond.

On August 1st 1834, the Emancipation Proclamation was read from the steps of the Treasury Building by Governor Sir George Fitzgerald Hill, announcing the beginning of the end of slavery in Trinidad. Slavery legally ended on August 1st 1838 with the reading of the Abolition Proclamation from this building by the same governor.

On 25th June 1932, the Treasury Building was destroyed by fire and in 1936, construction of the present building commenced with completion being in 1938.

Brian Lara Promenade

Constructed on reclaimed land that at the time was next to the waterfront, this square was originally called Plaza de la Marina. When the British captured Trinidad in 1797 they translated the name to Marine Square. In 1962, in honour of Trinidad and Tobago's independence from the United Kingdom it was renamed Independence Square.

The promenade was subsequently renamed after Brian Lara for his world record 400 runs in a cricket Test match. Along its tree lined length can usually be found individuals playing chess or engaging in that unique Trinidadian activity of "liming". The placement of benches and flowering shrubbery gives the entire area a relaxed laid-back atmosphere. The Brian Lara Promenade runs from the sea to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and provides a scenic anchor to downtown Port of Spain.

IFC_Esplanade

The IFC Esplanade is a place to see works of art by Trinidad's renowned painters on the wharf or at least what used to be the wharf.

The creation of a deep water habour for Port of Spain started in 1935 and was completed in 1939. To construct this harbour a retaining wall was built that was 3,300 feet long and ran from Mucurapo Point to the former St Vincent Street Jetty. In addition, the seabed was dredged for 3 miles out to create the deep water for the ships to come alongside. This project changed the look of the Port of Spain sea front as previously the sea front had been a deeply indented Bay. With the construction of the wall all the area behind the wall was filled to reclaim land, adding approximately 100 acres to the city of Port of Spain. The construction of the harbour also cut the citizens of Port of Spain off from the sea at the edge of the city.

Now the face of the waterfront has been changed again.

The removal of part of the former wharf and the establishment of an esplanade at the base of the International Financial Centre has once again exposed the city of Port of Spain to the sea. As a western extension of the Brian Lara Promenade this esplanade has created a delightful space at the edge of the city that is ideal for relaxing with family and friends. With large scale paintings by Trinidadian artists lining the outside of the ground floor walls of the International Financial Centre, this is a location to stroll along the pavement and admire the works of art. The esplanade is especially enjoyable in the cool of the evenings and beautiful at nights, with a backdrop of the sea and the ships in the channel on one side and the lights of the high rise towers on the other plus the fountain in the center with its alternating water jets.

Citigate

Port of Spain Lighthouse

The Port of Spain Lighthouse is on Wrightson Road, literally at the entrance to the city. To fully understand the significance of the Lighthouse one has to briefly look at the history of Port of Spain.

The Spanish established a garrison near the foot of the Laventille Hills in 1560. To the west of the fort were several mud walled huts and ajoupas. For the next two hundred years, there was little growth in Port of Spain. Then in 1757 Don Pedro de la Moneda arrived as Governor and refused to go to the capital, San Jose. His remaining in Port of Spain began the process that led to Port of Spain becoming the capital. In 1784 Don José Maria Chacón arrived as Governor and his coming along with the Cedula of Population, which encouraged the settlement of French Catholics in the island, led to a rapid increase in the town's population and its geographical extension westwards. From the small cluster of buildings at the foot of the Laventille Hills, eleven streets were laid out west to the area bounded by the St. Ann's River. At the time the St Ann's River (East Dry River) ran through Port of Spain along the street that is now called Chacon Street. The sea shore was at the area known as Marine Square and in the sea was a small island on which a fort was constructed called Fort San Andres. Realizing that the St. Ann's River, prone to flooding, was impeding the expansion of the town, Chacón had its course diverted in 1787 so that it ran to the east of the city, along the foot of the Laventille Hills. In 1803, using fill from the Laventille Hills the mudflats along the seashore were reclaimed beginning in the east in the area called Sea Lots. The land reclamation continued westward filling the area to the south of Marine Square. During the 1840's and 1870's the reclamation continued until in the 1880's the area now known as South Quay was truly what its name implies, a quayside on the south of the town at which ships could anchor.

During the 1880's in the area now known as Citigate, a jetty was constructed called the St. Vincent Jetty. On the inner end of the jetty the present lighthouse was constructed called the St Vincent Jetty Light. It is reported that the light from the lighthouse was visible for up to 10 miles at sea. The continuing land reclamation in 1906 and 1935 eventually resulted in the lighthouse becoming landlocked and the construction of Wrightson Road in 1935 gave us the present position of the lighthouse.

Fort_Chacon

When one hears the word "Fort" in a place name one immediately thinks of a place that has military significance. The creation of Fort Chacon undoubtedly had some military reason and it was the location to which Governor Chacon retreated when the British invaded in 1797, however it is for geographic reasons that Fort Chacon is remembered.

Trinidad’s last Spanish Governor Don Jose Chacon built Fort Chacon in 1792, in the Laventille hills overlooking Port of Spain. Around that time an expedition led by Don Cosmo Damian Churruca had set out from Spain to accurately map Spanish possessions in the New World. Churruca arrived in Trinidad in June 1792 and developed a detailed map of Trinidad. On 2^nd January 1793 while using Fort Chacon as an observatory, Don Churruca fixed for the first time an accurate meridian of longitude in the New World. While in Trinidad, Churruca had fallen doubly in love, with a young lady and with the country. As a result he later married the niece of Admiral Apodaca and settled in Chaguaramas in 1797. Although Churruca had settled in Trinidad, he was still a Spanish naval officer and so had to serve the king. While doing so he died at the age of 46 at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In order to get to the fort, a road had to be built and this road is today known as Observatory Street. A quarter of a mile to the west of Fort Chacon is another structure that had definitely been constructed for military reasons and that is Fort Picton.

Unfortunately most Trinidadians do not feel safe entering Laventille and so if you plan to visit Fort Chacon, it is best to go with someone from the area.

Laventille_Horse_Trough

On the Eastern Main Road on the outskirts of Port of Spain, just below the Success Laventille Government school, exists a historical landmark. Most persons who pass this landmark probably do not notice it or if they do, do not think of its historical significance. Indeed to the present generation the Eastern Main Road has always been there.

However in the 16^th, 17^th and early 18^th century there was no Eastern Main Road. The main modes of transportation were the rivers and the sea. Rivers such as the Arouca River in Lopinot, the Tacarigua River in Caura and the St Joseph River in St Joseph were used to get agricultural produce and people to the ocean and thence to Port of Spain. Produce was transported down the rivers in small boats and where those rivers connected to the Caroni River such as the Arouca River and the St Joseph River, they continued on the Caroni River. In other cases the produce from the estates was brought to the confluence of the St Joseph River and the Caroni River (which was known as Puerto Grande) and then transported by boat along the Caroni River to the Gulf of Paria and thence to Port of Spain. Thus when the beginnings of the Eastern Main Road were laid in 1785 by Governor Jose Chacon in the form of an earthen road from Port of Spain to San Juan and later extended to Arima at the end of the 18^th century it was the beginning of a transportation revolution.

Even with the existence of the Camino Real as the Eastern Main Road was called in the late 18^th century, travel to Port of Spain from the eastern parts of the island was an arduous affair. Travel was on horseback or by horse or mule drawn carts. Parts of the road were rough and there were rivers to cross with no bridges.

On reaching Port of Spain both animals and people would have been exhausted from the travel. So in 1853, during the period that Lord Harris was the British governor of Trinidad, a horse trough was constructed along the Eastern Main Road to allow animals to be refreshed from their tiring journey. This trough, although no longer used for providing water for animals, still exists today and in the midst of "modern development" is a link to our past.

Maracas_Pillars

The north coast road leading to Maracas Bay, Las Cuevas and Blanchissuesse is a very scenic route providing ocean views and luxuriant tropical rain forest. It is a route that is enjoyed by most and provides easy access to the lovely beaches and bays of Trinidad’s north coast. At the western end of this road are two pillars that have become a convenient meeting point for groups on their way to the north coast. These pillars were placed at this location by the U.S. military to mark the fact that they had constructed the road.

The original lease agreement that gave the US military the right to establish a base in Chaguaramas did not include the upper section of Tucker Valley and Macqueripe Bay. The U.S. government however wanted the whole of Tucker Valley, as they believed that without it the security of the base was threatened. Giving the U.S. military the exclusive use of Tucker Valley would however deprive Trinidadians of the use of Macqueripe Bay which in the 1930’s (and even today) was a popular sea bathing location because of its clear waters. As a result, in a supplemental lease consummated in December 1942, the Tucker Valley was included in the original 99-year lease and the United States agreed to build a road on the north coast that would enable Trinidadians to have access to the beach at Maracas Bay.

At the time the north coast was virgin forest, indeed even today much of the north coast is still virgin forest. It was an extremely difficult task because of the mountainous terrain with the land rising from sea level and within two miles reaching an elevation of 1,335 feet. Construction of the road started in March 1943 and was completed in April 1944. In building the 7 ½ mile highway to Maracas Bay, 1,000,000 cubic yards of material was removed. Interestingly, it was not until the late 1970’s that this road was extended from Maracas Bay to Blanchisseuse.

Maracas_Bay_Agri-Tourism_Park

The Maracas Bay Agri Tourism Park is an adventure in tropical agriculture. The park has a wide range of tropical fruits and vegetables with varieties of fruits that are not commonly seen in Trinidad and Tobago. Interspersed among the fruit trees are ornamental plants, particularly orchids. Visitors can wander through the park and see the different variety of trees. They even have varieties of bamboo rarely seen in Trinidad, such as the Buddha Bamboo and the Black Bamboo. The Maracas Bay Agri Tourism Park however offers more than just experiencing tropical agriculture. Throughout the property are sheds laid out for fireside cooking with earthen chulas. Visitors can bring their food to cook with the park supplying the wood. If you want an outdoor cooking experience but do not want to do the actual cooking the park can arrange to have the food prepared for you on site.

There is a small pond with spectacled caiman and another pond for fishing by visitors, while a third has ornamental fish. The Maracas Bay Agri Tourism Park has a miniature nine hole golf course where visitors can play a round of golf. A small stream runs through the property and while it is too shallow for bathing you can dip your feet in the cool waters. The park has a children’s area with a small swimming pool and playhouse.

The Maracas Bay Agri Tourism Park is a beautiful setting with rows of fruit trees and the sheds dotting the property while the hills of the Northern Range carpeted in forest green enclose the entire area. With the abundance of fruit trees a wide variety of birds dart through the park. The Park is approximately one minute from Maracas Beach on Grand Fond Road (the road before Sam’s Bar) on the left. The Park is open from 10.30 am to 6pm Wednesday to Sunday.

Fort Abercromby

Situated to the immediate north of Las Cuevas Bay on a promontory overlooking the bay are the remnants of Fort Abercromby. Built by the British in 1804 as part of the fortification of Trinidad that included Fort George and North Post, this was a lonely posting. In 1797 there were only 64 persons in the Las Cuevas area and even by 1810, the population had only grown to 114 persons. The British were concerned however about attacks from the French and knew all too well that Las Cuevas Bay made a good place for landing ships as they had landed there in 1750 when Trinidad was still in Spanish hands. The British also intended that Fort Abercromby would be a place of last defense in case they lost Port of Spain, retreating with their forces through St Joseph and over the mountains to Las Cuevas. The road over the mountains from St Joseph still exists, although in its present state would be considered more of an agricultural trace and is a popular hiking route. Fort Abercromby never experienced any military action however on 7th June 1805 an officer, standing on the fort saw a large fleet approaching and raised an alarm. A decision was taken to burn the huts, spike the guns and the entire garrison of three officers and 50 soldiers retreated over the hills to St Joseph. The fleet turned out to be that of the British Lord Nelson on its way to take part in the Battle of Trafalgar in which the combined fleets of France and Spain were defeated.

The fort was never repaired after the retreat. Today Fort Abercromby is a place of interest because of its historical significance and the fantastic ocean views. Only two of the cannons remain and remnants of the stone walls. It is also a popular fishing location.

San Juan Mystery Statue

Along the Santa Cruz Old Road, on the northern edges of San Juan, is a statue of a male Amerindian with the words La Venezuela inscribed around the pedestal on which the statue stands. The statue has long been a landmark in the area and a housing development has been created in the area, taking its name, La Venezuela Gardens, from the inscription. Although most of the residents of San Juan are familiar with the statue, discovering its origins has been difficult.

According to one resident of La Venezuela Gardens, oral tradition indicates that there was a Spanish settlement in the area and these settlers had developed friendly relations with the Amerindians who inhabited the Santa Cruz valley. Unfortunately this relationship deteriorated and the Amerindians planned an attack on the settlement. The settlers were warned of the attack by a male Amerindian and so either managed to escape or ward off the attack. In gratitude for the warning the settlers erected the statue which still stands today.

The veracity of this account is difficult to verify, however there are certain facts that we know. The Santa Cruz valley was inhabited by Amerindians of the Nepuyo sub-tribe and in 1790 when Governor Jose Maria Chacon established the settlement of San Juan the area was known by the Amerindian name of Aricagua. Indicators of Amerindian and Spanish settlement were found in the area when the La Venezuela Gardens houses were being constructed with Amerindian artifacts being found when the foundations were dug and also Spanish artifacts including a musket.

We also know that the Amerindians in Trinidad were not all happy with the invasion of their island by foreigners and certainly attacked the Spanish to drive them from Trinidad. In 1531 when the Spanish conquistador Sedeno attempted to settle in Trinidad, he was attacked and repulsed at Mucarapo Bay. Two more attempts by Sedeno were repulsed by the natives and it was only on the fourth attempt, when Sedeno brought horses that he succeeded. In 1595, the Amerindians joined forces with Walther Raleigh to attack St. Joseph. This resistance by the Amerindians continued with an attack on St Joseph in 1637 by Hyarima, a cacique of the Nepuyo sub-tribe. There was also the killing of the Capuchin priests in 1699 by the Amerindians in the event that has become known as the Arena massacre. As such the possibility of an Amerindian attack in the la Venezuela area is likely. We can also surmise that any attack was likely to have taken place before 1785, as in that year the first land grants in Santa Cruz was made by Chacon and also we know that the Amerindians were rounded up in 1785, especially from Arouca and Tacarigua, and moved to Arima. Should any additional information be available about this statue, this web site would be happy to receive it.

The statue is not the only mystery item or place of interest at La Venezuela Gardens as there are also a old gazebo and concrete structure.

The concrete structure looks as though it may have been a large table but also looks as if it may have been a large bath.

St Joseph

On 15^th May 1592 a Spanish conquistador Domingo de Vera, under orders from the Governor Don Antonio de Berrio y Oruna, established the first town, San Jose de Oruna in the area now known as St Joseph. Four buildings were erected, a Government House (Casa Real), a Town Hall (Cabildo), a prison and a catholic church. The Catholic Church still stands on the site of the first church. St. Joseph remained the capital of Trinidad until 1784, when Governor Jose Maria Chacon declared Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad.

San Jose was twice completely destroyed and rebuilt. In 1595 Walter Raleigh in an alliance with the Amerindians, which included the Chaguanese tribe, attacked and burnt the town. The town was destroyed again in a Dutch raid in 1649, when the Dutch allied themselves with Chief Hyarima. The Chaguaramas Military History Museum has a reenactment of the sacking of San Jose in 1595.

Two other notable events in the history of St Joseph occurred in 1797 and 1837. When Trinidad fell to the British in 1797, Governor Chacon fled to St Joseph and the Capitulation agreement was signed in the great house of Valsayn estate. In 1837 there was a mutiny by members of the Third West India Regiment led by a former slave Daaga. The mutiny was quickly put down and the leaders, Daaga, Ogson and Coffin were tried, condemned and executed on 16th August 1837.

St. Joseph today is a quiet, mainly residential, area on many of whose streets can still be seen old homes from the colonial era. These old buildings, while not as expansive as the Port of Spain mansions are lovely examples of colonial architecture.

Caura

The name brings to mind the dam that never was.  Caura  is an adaptation of the Arawak word 'Cuara' that meant heavily wooded valley. It is a valley that lies along the Northern Range, five miles north of Tacarigua, accessed from the Eastern Main Road via the Caura Royal Road. Records from 1750 show this valley was populated by the Arawaks. After the Cedula of 1783, Governor José Maria Chacon granted land in this valley, to the mainly French Catholic incoming settlers with their African slaves. With the British capture of Trinidad in 1797, nineteen lots were marked out, representing a strip which began from the entrance of the Caura Valley and leading right up to the headwaters of the Tacarigua River, which from this point became the Caura River. The richness of the land, the coolness of the valley and the ability to use the river caused Caura to prosper with the growth of cocoa and coffee. It was an enclave in which the principal languages were French and Spanish.

In 1943, the government, under Governor Sir Bede Clifford, acquired all the land in and around the village of Caura for the purpose of building a dam to supply the entire north of Trinidad with water. The plan included the damming of the Caura River to create a 300-acre lake in the area that was the village. All the inhabitants were relocated with the majority going to Lopinot. On August 15th 1945 during the last mass at the parish church the priest called on the wrath of God and declared that the dam would never be constructed. On November 14th 1945, the church was dynamited by the Government and construction started on the dam. The construction was plagued with controversy and conflict, with charges of graft, bribery and corruption. Randolph Miles, the father of Gene Miles was the individual who exposed the corruption. In April 1947, the new governor, Sir John Shaw  expressed reservation about the project and had a Jesuit priest, who was a dam expert, review the project. The review showed that the substratum could not support the dam and the project was cancelled.

Today Caura is a valley relatively empty of human habitation, with a crystal clear river running through it and natural vegetation on the hillsides. In the area that was formerly Caura Village can be seen the unfinished pump house and water sluices. The entire length of the Caura River is now used for camping and recreational bathing.

Lopinot

Twenty minutes drive from the Eastern Main Road in Arouca is a small museum and park dedicated to the memory of Charles Joseph Count de Lopinot. Count de Lopinot arrived in Trinidad in 1800 after fighting alongside the British in an attempt to stop the Haitian Revolution under Toussaint L'Ouverture. Some time between 1804 and 1805 the Count was given permission to select a parcel of land and set out up the Arouca River. After 5 miles up the river he discovered a wide flat plain in the midst of the narrow steep sided heavily forested valley. We now know that the flat plain is caused by extensive beds of limestone that run through the Northern Range from Diego Martin almost to Toco and cause the flat areas in many of the Northern Range valleys. The Count was granted land in the valley and established a cocoa estate. Over time the valley came to be referred to as Lopinot.

The museum is located on the grounds of the former estate and is in the style of the 1800's. Around the museum are large shady Samaan trees with picnic benches underneath. Nearby is a small cemetery in which the Count and his wife are buried. Across from the museum is the Lopinot Community Center where local handicraft items can be purchased on some days. The Arouca River runs alongside the property and a short walk takes you to the river bank where large bamboo clumps provide shade. The river bank in this area is a lovely spot for picnics (visit the Photo Gallery for images).

To see other photographs of the Lopinot Museum grounds, visit our Photo Gallery and enter the search term "Lopinot". Also to be visited in the Lopinot area are the La Pastora Chapel with its La Divina Pastora statue and the La Veronica church for which many of the items were transferred from Caura. The Lopinot valley still retains much of the natural forest cover and there are several hiking trails through the valley.

Cleaver Woods Museum

While many of our museums have Amerindian artifacts, the Museum at Cleaver Woods is dedicated to Amerindian culture. This small museum contains tools that the Amerindians would have used in their every day life and shows how many of our present practices are derived from Amerindian culture. The museum also has a modified version of a clay oven. At the museum one can learn that our Amerindian forefathers were much more than the simple subdivision between Caribs and Arawaks. In Trinidad there were several sub-tribes consisting of Nepuyo, Lokono (also called Aruaca), Kalinago, Yaio, Chaima, Warao (Warrahoon, Guaraunos, Guarahoon), Kalipuna, Carinepogoto, Garini, and the Chaguanes.

Situated on the Arima Old Road between D’Abadie and Arima, the museum is set in a pine forest with picnic tables and ajoupas throughout the property. There are short trails for cool walks through the forest. On the museum grounds, in addition to the pine trees, there are other local trees that have labels to allow visitors to be able to identify them. Across the road from the museum grounds is also a pine forest where tables and benches have been placed allowing more people to picnic and enjoy nature.

To learn about the places in Trinidad that are named after the Amerindians, visit the Area Summary Page. The Arima section has information about one of the great Nepuyo chiefs, while the Gran Chemin section of the Beaches Page has information on the route used by the Guarahoon Indians. The San Fernando Hill section has brief information on Amerindian worship.

Arima Landmarks

Arima, in eastern Trinidad, has traditionally been associated with Amerindian culture in Trinidad and the name is believed to be an Amerindian word. The exact meaning of the word however has been open to debate. The traditional view was that the "Arima" means place with plenty water. It has also been expounded that name is taken from a particular plan used by the Amerindians to stun fish while in the water and this plant was plentiful in the Arima district.

In 1757, the Capuchin priests founded a mission at Arima and in 1786, the Spanish Governor Don Jose Chacon transferred all the Nepuyo Amerindians from Tacarigua and Arouca to the mission at Arima. At the time of the transfer it was decreed that the lands around Arima would be given to the Amerindians in perpetuity. With the British conquest of Trinidad in 1797, Governor Ralph Woodford continued the decree that the lands around Arima were Amerindian property and non-Amerindians were not to live at the mission. Unfortunately after the death of Woodford in 1828, the subsequent governors were not concerned about preserving that decree.

Today, one of the reminders of Arima's Amerindian heritage is the statue of Chief Hyarima (also called Hierryma) that is at the western entrance to the town along the Eastern Main Road and opposite to the Arima Hospital. Hyarima was a cacique of the Nepuyo sub-tribe who allied himself with the Dutch who were based in Tobago and had established forts on the northeast and south coasts of Trinidad. In 1637, Hyarima along with the Dutch attacked St Joseph, the capital at the time, in an attempt to force the Spanish out of Trinidad. The date of Hyarima's attack was 14th October and that day is now celebrated each year in Trinidad as Amerindian Heritage Day.

Other reminders of the Amerindian heritage are the Ajoupas on Calvary Hill and the Santa Rosa Festival.

The most well known landmark in Arima is a clock called The Dial. It was given as gift to the citizens of Arima and the Borough in 1898 by the Mayor John Francis Wallen. When the Dial was originally installed a stream that ran through the town powered its machinery. Over the years the internal mechanisms have been updated and the present Dial is electrically operated.

Arena Amerindian Site

Within the Arena forest, not far from the Arena Dam is the site of a confrontation that occurred in 1699 between the Amerindians and Spanish settlers. This event over the years has been called the Arena Massacre, however more modern thought is beginning to view this as an uprising against oppression and cultural imperialism.

What is known is that on December 1, 1699, the Amerindians who worked the encomienda (state farm) for the Catholic mission church at Arena, while being required to build a new church at a site in the Arena forest, killed the priests in charge, desecrated the church and mutilated the ornaments of the church. The bodies of the priests Father Marco, Father Estevan and Brother Ramon were thrown in a ditch and the Indians fled to the bush. Along the way they met the governor of the colony, Don Jose (not Don Jose Chacon) who had come to visit the mission that day and killed him and his party.

The Indians took to the bush, ambushing the governor of the colony who had come to visit the mission that day. They killed him and his party and escaped into the Nariva Swamp. The Spanish authorities hunted down the Amerindians. While in the Nariva Swamp 20 of them were tracked down and killed. The Amerindians were eventually cornered on the east coast of the island and it is believed that some of them jumped to their death at Galera Point rather than be captured. Eighty four of the Amerindians were taken prisoner and brought back to St Joseph for trial. Twenty two of the adult men were hanged in the public square at San Jose, the capital. The bodies were then decapitated, dismembered and strewn on the roadside to serve as a deterrent to other Amerindians who wanted to resist. The women and children were given as slaves to Spanish inhabitants of the colony.

Sixteen months after burial the bodies of the priests were dug up from the graves at Arena and transferred to St Joseph Catholic Church. It is said that the bodies were still intact and had not decomposed. In 1989 the burial spot at the St Joseph church was excavated and the remains transferred to the Catholic church at San Rafael.

Today it is possible to visit the site at Arena and while there is not much to see at the site, it is historically significant. When you visit the site with the forest surrounding you and birds chirping in the trees plus parrots flying overhead, there is a feeling of being transported back to an earlier age, whether you cheer for the Amerindians as tragic figures resisting Spanish colonialism or pray for the priests as martyrs.

To visit the site you turn south off the Churchill Roosevelt Highway onto Tumpuna Road and drive for 2.1 kilometers and turn right on the road that runs along the side of the warehouse complex. You then drive for 2.0 kilometers and turn left at the San Rafael Catholic Church. You proceed for 1.2 kilometers to a Y junction and go on the right for 2 kilometers to Barker Trace. From the time you turn off the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway there are signs directing you to Arena Dam and you simply have to follow the Arena Dam signs until you reach to Barker Trace. At Barker Trace there is a sign pointing to the Arena Historical site. You go along Barker Trace for 0.2 kilometers and you will encounter a track on the left that leads up a slight incline. There is a Rotary Club sign at the start of the tract identifying the site.

A visit to this Amerindian site can be easily combined with a visit to the Arena Dam.

Brasso Seco

Hidden in the folds of the Northern Range lies the eco-tourism gem of Brasso Seco. To get to Brasso Seco you head east on the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway and just after the Santa Rosa housing development you turn onto Demerara Road and then across the Eastern Main Road and onto the Arima Bye Pass Road. The Arima Bye Pass Road merges onto the Blanchisseuse-Arima Road. Asa Wright Nature Center is reached after 13 kilometers (20 minutes driving time). It is a twisting mountain road and as you ascend, it becomes distinctly cooler and fern growth increases. At particular sections along the road, dependent upon the weather, you are immersed in clouds. Brasso Seco Junction is reached approximately 40 minutes after crossing the Eastern Main Road (19.3 kilometers). An alternate route is to begin the drive along the Blanchisseuse-Arima Road from the village of Blanchisseuse and the Brasso Seco Junction is reached after 45 minutes driving. At the Brasso Seco Junction you turn onto the Brasso Seco Road and descend in a twenty minutes drive to the village of Brasso Seco.

The name Brasso Seco means dry branch and this referred to the fact that prior to the 1900's the area was virgin forest with little agricultural produce. The introduction of cocoa and coffee changed the area with numerous estates being developed. The region has one of the highest precipitation levels in Trinidad with over 100 inches of rainfall each year. As you descend to the village there are numerous rivulets of crystal clear water flowing down the mountainside in tiny caverns etched from the rock face by eons of flowing water.

In the 1960's the fall of cocoa prices caused many cocoa estates to be abandoned. Today, some estates are being revived with cocoa, coffee, banana, citrus and christophene. Brasso Seco is a small village with an estimated 200 houses scattered throughout the valley. The forest descends down the hillsides, with the estates interspersed throughout the valley. This blend of virgin rainforest with estates of mainly tree crops creates a haven for tropical birds making Brasso Seco into a birdwatching paradise. The numerous agricultural roads and trails makes it easy to wander along the roads and spot many species. The area is home to the only endemic bird species in Trinidad, the Trinidad Piping Guan (Pawi) and rare species such as the Little Tinamou and Large-billed Seedfinch are also seen. Many of the hummingbird species are seen in the area, along with toucans, orioles, oropendolas and manakins.

Brasso Seco is known in Trinidad as the start of the hike to Paria Bay and the Paria Waterfall, with some hikers continuing along the North Coast Trail to Matelot. The area however has 11 waterfalls and three of the largest caverns in Trinidad. Interested persons can call 669 6218 to speak to any member of the Brasso Seco Tourism Action Committee to arrange hikes to the numerous attractions that the area offers. The area is at the head of the Marianne and Paria valleys and leads to the wonders of the Madamas valley.

A major activity in Brasso Seco is the Harvest Festival which is held annually in May. Many of the villagers from along Trinidad's North coast gather in the village and agricultural produce is brought from all around. To learn more about Brasso Seco and its attractions, visit the Brasso Seco Paria Eco Tourism Web Site.

Valencia Pillars

Up to the 1940’s the only road linking Port of Spain to the eastern parts of the island was the Eastern Main Road, that had begun life in 1785 under Governor Jose Chacon as the Camino Real (Royal Road) linking Port of Spain with San Jose (St Joseph). The road was later extended to Arima when the Amerindian mission was established there. This narrow road was often congested as all traffic from the eastern estates and towns flowed along this route.

The advent of World War II led to the lend lease agreement between Britain and the United States of America under which Britain granted land in Trinidad to the U.S. for the establishment of U. S. military bases. In 1941, U.S. forces arrived in Trinidad and proceeded to establish bases at Chaguaramas and Cumuto plus construct an airstrip at Piarco and develop a deep-water harbour at the port of Port of Spain. The additional traffic that the Americans added to the Eastern Main Road made travel on this road a tortuous affair. Thus the Americans decided to construct a road that led from Port of Spain to their base at Cumuto, which was called Fort Read. Construction started in December 1941 and the road was completed in May 1942. From the completion of its construction until the end of the war in 1945, this road was only for the use of the American military and Trinidadian vehicles were not allowed on the road. The road was called the Churchill Roosevelt Highway to commemorate the conference in August 1941 that had taken place between the British leader Winston Churchill and the American leader Franklin Roosevelt. The road began on the western edge of Barataria and went up to the area of the present Santa Rosa housing development. As a memorial the Americans constructed the two pillars that are seen opposite Santa Rosa.

While that explains the pillars at the Arima (western) end, what is the reason for the pillars at Valencia? One now often forgotten fact was that the American forces also has a base in Manzanilla, in the area that is now called North Manzanilla. This base was a jungle warfare training camp and indeed was the first Jungle Warfare School established by the U.S. Army. The Americans therefore extended the eastern end of their highway to connect with the Eastern Main Road at Valencia and so ultimately provide a land communication route with their Manzanilla base and other bases on the east coast. To mark their road they constructed the two pillars that are today seen at Valencia Junction. To learn more about the American military presence in Trinidad during World War II see our section on Former U.S. Army Bases.

Pius Holdings Park Valencia

Along the Valencia Road, shortly after the popular camping and river lime location, is a former gravel quarry that has been converted into a park. It is on the southern side of the road, with a small sign on the gate announcing its presence. The center piece of the park is a lake and dinghies are provided for paddling. There are foot paths throughout for leisurely walks and a clear river runs through a section of the property, allowing those who desire the opportunity for a river bath. At the center of the property is a large hut with grills for cooking and there are benches with picnic tables interspersed around the park. The Photo Gallery Page has additional photographs of the park (enter the search term "Pius"). The park is open everyday and can be contacted at 667-9484.

The Indian Caribbean Museum

Upon the abolition of slavery, planters in the West Indies sought a source of cheap labour and as a result developed the system of indentured labour. During the period 1837 to 1917, approximately 100,000 labourers were transported from India to the West Indies. In the case of Trinidad, the first Indian indentured laborers, 217 individuals, arrived on 30th May 1845 aboard the ship, Fatel Rozack. Although the first group landed at the Port of Spain Harbour, subsequent groups were first interned at Nelson Island.

The Indian Caribbean Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of these labourers. Housed in a former primary school, the first impression gained on entering the museum is an abundance of photographs. These photographs not only show the early laborers in all aspects of their daily lives but also provide a glimpse into the physical makeup of Trinidad in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Other exhibits include musical instruments, agricultural tools, cooking utensils, clothing and books. The museum also has an art gallery, reference library and genealogical database.

Located on Orange Field Road  in Waterloo, the museum is just after the Hanuman Mandir and just before the Temple in the Sea. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday between 10 am and 5 pm and admission is free.

Claxton_Bay_Maiden – A Tale of Undying Love

Trinidadians love to provide stories of supernatural beings that lure the unsuspecting or unwary. Several areas have a story of a headless horseman that is only seen at night. Along the Solomon Hochoy Highway in the vicinity of the Claxton Bay Exit, tales are told of motorists who see a young lady walking across the highway directly in front of them. Providing an interesting addition to this story is the statue of a young lady that is located immediately before the exit, on a low hill on the western side of the highway near to the TSTT cell tower.

The legend behind the statue is that during the early 20^th century, when Indian indentured labour was still used in Trinidad, there was a plantation in the vicinity operated by a Spanish family. The daughter of the plantation owner, Maria, had fallen in love with an Indian labourer and the two lovers had planned to get married. It is said that the father saw the two lovers together, realized the relationship and became furious. That night the father beat his daughter and told her to end the relationship. Maria refused and said that she would rather die. The father then told his other workers to kill the labourer. Maria heard of her father’s plan and ran to tell her lover. On crossing the road, she was bitten by a snake but driven by love she continued running. Weakened however by the snake bite, she fell to her death from the hill next to the road. Her father overcome by grief built a statue on the hill where she died. It is therefore said that the apparition, seen crossing the highway at night, is Maria trying to reach her lover.

Of her Indian lover, he was never seen again.

The_Lion_House

Prior to constructing the house the Capildeo's operated a store on the land and then in the 1940's the property was rented to the Patel's who operated a store on the ground floor called the Lion Store. After the Lion Store ceased operation, a drug store was operated on the premises. In 1961 Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, the grandson of Capildeo, immortalized the Lion House in his Book "A House for Mr Biswas" by using it as the building he called Hanuman House in which a store is operated. 

Pointe-a-Pierre_Train_Station

Located within the Petrotrin complex at Pointe-a-Pierre is the refurbished Pointe-a-Pierre train station. Situated in the midst of a grove of Samaan trees, the refurbished train station is on the exact spot where the original station was located. As you wander in and out of the rooms you can see exactly where the original train line ran with the trains stopping directly in front of the station.

On the station grounds one can also find numerous items of oilfield equipment from the 1950's. As you walk in the shade of the trees you can read the small plaques on each item that explain what the item is and where it came from. Viewing these pieces of heavy machinery provides further insight into the history of Trinidad's oil fields.

This small site is another link to Trinidad's railway past. It makes a convenient addition to a visit to the Pointe-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust, the entrance to which is just a few hundred metres to the north of the station.

Harris Promenade

"Last train to San Fernando" are the words to the chorus of a popular calypso. During the period 1876 to 1968, train travel was a popular method of transportation used by all sections of the population. Although train travel in Trinidad is no more, you can still see one of the early steam locomotives displayed on Harris Promenade in San Fernando in south Trinidad.  The area in which the locomotive stands is actually the original location of the starting point and terminus for the first railway established in Trinidad, called the Cipero Tramway. This train line ran from San Fernando to Princes Town, with the carriages being drawn by horses or mules. (To learn more of the history of Trinidad's railways, visit this site, http://www.tramz.com/tt/tt.html)

Harris Promenade is named after Lord Harris who was governor from 1846 to1856 and holds the distinction along with Woodford of being the only British Governors who served two terms in Trinidad, as Woodford served from 1812 to 1828. Another public place named after Governor Harris is Lord Harris Square in Port of Spain. In 1846 Lord Harris gave land to the San Fernando Town Council for the erection of public buildings and as a promenade for the people to enjoy. The individual however that actually developed Harris Promenade was Robert Guppy who came from England in 1839. He was a lawyer and civil engineer and was the Mayor of San Fernando on nine occasions. Guppy laid out a wide walkway in the centre of two carriage roads and planted Samaan trees to provide shade.

In keeping with Lord Harris's dictum of use for public buildings, a Roman Catholic Church was constructed on the Promenade, being completed in 1849. As French was widely spoken at the time, the church was called "Notre Dame de Bons Secours". (Our Lady of Good Help). A Town Hall was constructed in 1853 on the site of the present City Hall. In March 1874, a new Court House was inaugurated on Harris Promenade on the site of the present San Fernando police headquarters. In July 1874, the foundation stone of St Paul's Anglican Church was laid towards the Chancery Lane end of Harris Promenade. This church, too, is on the same spot today. In January 1919, the Andrew Carnegie - free library was opened at the eastern end of the Promenade.

San_Fernando_Town_Hall

In 1852, the San Fernando Town Hall was near the corner of Chacon Street and High Street but was in rented premises in a location that was subject to flooding. As a result in 1852 the Town Council petitioned for and was granted Crown land on Harris Promenade at the corner of Penitence Street. In 1853 construction was started and completed in 4 months at a cost of $3,000

The original building was a wooden structure and by 1930 it was considered unsuitable. As a result the structure was demolished and the present building erected on the same site. In the foyer of the City Hall is a brass bell. This bell was the only item recovered from the Lady Mc Leod which sank off the coast  of Vistabella in 1854. The SS Lady Mc Leod had gone into service in the 1840's and transported mail and passengers between Port of Spain and San Fernando. In 1847 the owner, David Bryce began issuing stamps to cover the cost of the postage, with the stamps showing an image of the ship. Today those stamps are worth thousands of dollars more than their original five cents.

San_Fernando_Police_Station

The Divisional Headquarters for the southern division of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is located at the western end of Harris Promenade across from St Paul’s Church and obliquely opposite the San Fernando Town Hall. Records indicate that as early as 1853 there was a Police Post in San Fernando at that location on Harris Promenade. Construction of the present building started in 1869 and was completed in 1877 at a cost of 25,000 pounds. The building is constructed of local limestone and bears a resemblance to the Former Police Headquarters located at the corner of St Vincent and Sackville Streets in Port of Spain.

One feature of the building is the prominent tower in the center of the building. This tower had its most famous use in 1884 at 1.30am on Monday February 25^th. From this tower a lookout spotted Canboulay masqueraders on Cipero Street and the Police moved out from their headquarters to stop the masqueraders. A battle ensued between the masqueraders and the police at the corner of Lower Hillside Street and Coffee Street.

San_Fernando_Court_House

On June 2^nd 1870 at the corner of Harris Promenade and Penitence Street, in San Fernando, Governor Arthur Gordon laid the foundation stone for a court house. Due to stops and starts the court house was not opened until 1874. The first person to be tried was Matthew Frederick who was found guilty of assault and sentenced to two years hard labour. This courthouse is next to the San Fernando Police Station and although a very modern court facility has been constructed to the rear of the building , the front portion of the building has been retained as the original building.

Carib_House

Sitting on the corner of Carib Street and Upper Hillside Street in San Fernando is what is believed to be the oldest surviving house in San Fernando. Built in 1832 by Samuel Edwards a stone mason from Barbados, the house was the home of the Cadres family, among whom was a member of the first Town Council of San Fernando in 1846. The house was built in the Spanish style of architecture. Called the Carib House it is believed that the name arises from the fact that it is located on Carib Street. The street name comes from San Fernando’s link to the Amerindians who would travel to worship at the place they called Anaparima. In present times, Anaparima is called San Fernando Hill or Naparima Hill. The Guarahoon Indians (Warahoon, Juarro) were often called Caribs, hence the name of the street.

Sadly, renovations have taken away the character of the old house in a very mistaken attempt at modernising the structure. Rather than restoring items that were damaged or unservicable they have been replaced with steel. Thus we have lost the delicate, hand-carved windows and the elegantly carved and patterned staircase at the back of the building. The columns at base are really the only aspect of the house that retains its original Spanish character.

Palmiste_Park

Palmiste Park is a large park of 40 acres on the outskirts of San Fernando just after Duncan Village, lying along the San Fernando Siparia Erin Road. The park has undulating land with wide open spaces that are perfect for picnics and little children playing. There are large spreading Samaan trees throughout and benches scattered around the property. There is a paved lighted jogging track and an area set aside for cricket.

Palmiste Park is the last remaining open space from the former Palmiste Estate. This estate was formed in 1808 when Governor Thomas Hislop granted 360 acres to Major General Sir Charles Shipley who had been part of the invasion of Trinidad by the British in 1797. The estate was acquired by James Lamont in 1869 and eventually grew to 2,328 acres. The name Palmiste was given to the estate because of the Palmiste palms that were plentiful in the area. The area that is today Palmiste National Park was once called Palmiste Pasture and was the area used for grazing the cattle used as beasts of burden on the estate. By the 1930’s the area was used for livestock breeding.

The_Company_Villages

The Moruga Road passes through a series of villages known as Third, Fifth and Sixth Company. These names are the result of the settlement in Trinidad in 1815 and 1816 of six companies of negro soldiers who had fought alongside the British in the American war of 1812. These men had been slaves on American plantations and the British had offered them freedom if they would defect and fight for the British. At the end of the war the British brought them to Trinidad. In 1815, 50 men were brought to Trinidad, then in 1816, 34 men, 15 women and 7 children were brought.

The soldiers were each given 16 acres of virgin land for married men and 8 acres for single men. They were settled together in the companies under which they had fought in the war, hence the names of the villages and their being called The Company Villages. This area was chosen because it was remote country and far from the plantations. The planters did not want these men with a military past to be near their slaves for fear that they might lead the slaves in revolt.

The other soldiers from the companies were settled in other parts of Trinidad: the First Company was settled in Hindustan; part of the Third Company was settled in North Manzanilla. The Fourth Company was settled near to Hindustan in an area that came to be called HardBargain. The soldiers protested about the poor soil conditions in the area and said that they had been given a "hard bargain". After the protestations about the land condition part of the company was moved to an area that was called New Grant because these soldiers had been given a new grant of land.

According to Besson and Brereton in the Book of Trinidad, part of the Second Company was shipwrecked off the coast of Tobago and swam ashore and settled in Tobago.

There are however another group of Company Villages that are not as well known as those in the Moruga and Hindustan areas.

In October 1818 it was decided to disband part of the Third British West India Regiment which was comprised of Negro soldiers. According to Professor Brereton these were " free Africans who had served in the West India Regiments created by the British to defend the colonies during the long period when Britain and France were at war (1793-1815)". The British had intended to send these men back to Africa however the soldiers made it clear that they did not want to be repatriated to Africa. Thus in 1819 these soldiers were settled along the Cuare River in the companies they had fought in. The area in which they were settled became known as the Cuare Village and is today called Valencia.

The remainder of the Third British West India Regiment was disbanded in 1825 and 376 men, 35 women and 34 children were settled in Trinidad. These soldiers were again settled in companies and they were placed in four groups in a line from the Cuare River pointing in the direction of Manzanilla. The Cuare River (shown as Quare on some maps) in the area these soldiers were settled runs parallel to what is now known as the "Valencia Stretch" of the Eastern Main Road. One of the other areas where these groups were settled was known as Turure and another is the area now called Cumuto.

Part of the reason for settling these men in this area was again to keep them away from the slaves on the plantations. The other reason for this area was that they were expected to create and maintain a road that would run from Arima through Cuare (Valencia) to Manzanilla.

All of these soldiers were expected to remain in the villages in which they were settled. One group however ran away from Manzanilla and went to live in Fifth Company. This group was comprised of Mandingos and the area they settled in was and is still called Mandingo Road.

Knollys_Tunnel

Located in the village of Tabaquite is the only man-made tunnel found in Trinidad. This tunnel was constructed in 1898 to facilitate the train line that had been extended from Cunupia to Tabaquite. During this period, "Cocoa was King" and the Tabaquite region including the Caparo valley, Brasso and Longdenville were heavy producers. As a result the railway system was extended to allow cocoa estates to be able to move their produce from this region. During construction it was found that a ridge of high ground was barring the way. Consequently the tunnel was constructed through the ridge. The tunnel was named Knollys Tunnel after Acting Governor Courtney Knollys and the new train line was opened on 20^th August 1898. This train line operated until 30^th August 1965. During its time this tunnel was an attraction and many people rode the train to Tabaquite simply to experience going through the tunnel.

 In 1991, recognizing the historic importance of this tunnel, the Government under Minister Lincoln Myers cleared the tunnel and beautified the area. As a result, today, Knollys Tunnel is still an attraction. Around the tunnel entrance the grounds have been landscaped and there are two ajoupas for relaxing in. To get to the tunnel, you take either the Guaracara Tabaquite Road or the Tabaquite Rio Claro Road to Tabaquite and then turn onto John William Trace. As you turn onto John William Trace, you turn left on the first road and follow this road direct to the tunnel entrance. The train tracks have been filled in and the road is a gravel road.

Former Mayaro Post Office

Undoubtedly the delivery of mail and the development of a postal system plays a major role in the development of an area and so it was in the development of the Mayaro region. At the present Mayaro is best known for its beach and is a popular vacation area. In the 1700's however Mayaro was an isolated region, cut off from the rest of Trinidad by thick forests and the lack of a bridge across the Ortoire River. In 1818, a steamer service that sailed around the island was started and a postal service was inaugurated in 1851, with Mayaro being one of the first 20 postal destinations. At that time the Post Office was located at Radix village which was the main settlement and the point at which the steamer stopped, with the mail being brought by the steamer.

During the 1860's the Governor, Lord Harris, cut a trace from Princes Town to Mayaro beach. Concerned that criminals would use the Mayaro Trace to flee to Mayaro to escape justice, a police post was established at the end of the trace in Plaisance Village. In 1889 the police post was made into a Police Station. The post office however remained at Radix Village. Some time between 1914 and 1917, there was a robbery at the post office and it was decided to move the post office to Plaisance Village (Pierreville) and place it next to the Police Station.

The building which was then constructed for the post office was however given to the District Medical Officer, Dr. Armand Pampellone, so that he could be close to the emergency hospital that had been built at Plaisance. In 1921 the post office was finally constructed by Phillip Xavier. It is believed that in order to please the postmistress, Miss Best, the building was made as an exact replica of the District Medical Officer's residence. It was designed with a wide verandah along the entire front. Just as the post office was constructed, Miss Best was transferred and a new postmistress, Alice Cuffy was appointed. In those days the postmistress would live at the post office. In 1931, Alice Cuffy was transferred and her sister, Olga Cuffy was appointed as the postmistress. In 1948, Olga Cuffy retired and the post office was converted into a nurses hostel to enable them to be near the hospital. The Mayaro Post Office has been placed on the National Trust Register of historic buildings and is presently undergoing repairs to restore it.

Other Mayaro Sites

Located on St Joseph estate in Mayaro is a statue of St Joseph that is believed to have been erected in the 1860's. The statue is on the edge of the beach facing the original estate great house that is still standing,(visit the Photo Gallery for pictures of the Great House). The St Joseph estate was created by the three Ganteaumes de Monteau brothers who arrived in Trinidad in 1793, after fleeing from Martinique. The estate was originally called Beausejour, which meant "Good Home" but in 1853 due to bankruptcy, parts of the estate were sold and the remaining 618 acres was renamed St Joseph estate.

The St Joseph statue was erected by Francois Alphonse Ganteaume, the grandson of the original founders. According to Fr. Anthony de Verteuil in his book Great Estates of Trinidad, there was a large storm one year and the statue was washed out to sea. Several years later there was another storm and the statue reappeared on the beach. As the statue is on private property, the permission of the owners should be obtained in order to enter the estate. However because the statue is so close to the sea, it can be seen from the beach. The St Joseph estate is next to Point Radix on the northern end of Mayaro Beach.

Another of the sites on St Joseph estate is a beautiful small cottage that faces the sea (visit the Photo Gallery for the picture). It is believed that this cottage was erected for Lord Harris who vacationed in Mayaro at the estate. Lord Harris was the British Governor who oversaw the introduction of Indian indentured labour to Trinidad in 1847. Several locations around Trinidad have been named after him, such as Lord Harris Square in Port of Spain and Harris Promenade in San Fernando.

Fyzabad Heritage Park

A hidden gem that lies along the oilfield road connecting Palo Seco with Fyzabad is the Fyzabad Heritage Park. This very peaceful area is kissed by constant soft breezes. In the center of the park is a sizeable pond with a foot path threading through the area, at times skirting the edge of the pond and at other times veering away. The water attracts various species of birds including white-headed marsh tyrants, sandpipers, egrets, blue and white swallows, plovers, yellow-rumped caciques, crested oropendolas, doves .

Throughout the park there are strategically placed benches giving views of the water or the surrounding forest. There are open areas for picnics and several carat sheds with seating. Scattered around the park are functional oil jacks. A large play area for children with swings is located at the front of the property. A short distance from the park is Charlie King Junction.

Charlie King Junction

Fyzabad in south Trinidad was founded in 1871 as a project of the Canadian Mission to the Indians. Under an arrangement with the Presbyterian Church the government gave 10 acre plots to former indentured labourers who had converted to the Presbyterian faith. It is believed that the village was named after the district of Faizabad in the Utter Pradesh state in India.

The discovery of oil in Fyzabad in 1917 led to the influx of workers to the area, particularly immigrants from Grenada. These workers labored under very difficult conditions and for very low pay. One of these workers was a man called Tubal Uriah "Buzz" Butler who had come from Grenada in 1921. In 1936, Butler founded his union and began agitating for improvements in the working conditions. On June 2nd 1937 the Government charged Butler with sedition and incitement to riot. When he failed to appear in court, the Police attempted to arrest him at 3.00pm on June 19th 1937 while he was addressing a rally at Fyzabad Junction. The arrest attempt led to a riot by the workers and in the riot English police officer Sub-Inspector William Bradburn was shot to death and Trinidadian Police Corporal Charlie King was burnt alive. Strikes and riots developed throughout the country. In next the eight months, 9 trade unions were formed, including the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) and the All Trinidad Sugar Estates and Factory Workers Trade Union (ATSE & FTU).

Eventually as a result of Butler’s efforts working conditions were improved and June 19^th declared, a public holiday, Labour Day. At the intersection where the incident occurred, there is a bust of Tubal Uriah Butler to commemorate his efforts.

Penal_Island_Park

Located just off the Siparia Erin Road, between Penal and Siparia on Water Well Road is what we call the Penal Island Park. This park was formerly called the Jovi Island Park and the sign on the Siparia Erin Road still has that name. We are advised that the park is now owned by the Hindu Credit Union.

The park is centred around a large lake that has a small island in the middle. The area around the park teems with bird life, especially egrets which use the bamboo stands as nesting sites. If you are looking for a place for a relaxing picnic in south Trinidad, this park is a good location as there is ample open land around the lake. Those who seek a location for an open area event such as a family reunion or departmental get-together will also find this location suitable as there is a covered area with sinks, cutting surfaces and cooking area.

A wooden walkway surrounds approximately three quarter of the lake allowing you to take a casual stroll along the water’s edge. Freshwater recreational fishermen will also appreciate the walkway as it allows them to try their hand at catching local species such as guabine, coscorob and cascadura. If you like being on the water, this lake is good for a gentle paddle. There are a few cycle kayaks on the compound but these are not in good condition so it would be best if you brought your own kayak, canoe or inflatable boat.

There is presently no cover charge for using the facility. Swimming in the lake is not advised.

Oil Fields

The economic prosperity of Trinidad and Tobago has for a long time been based on the petrochemical sector and petroleum or oil has had a colorful history in Trinidad. The history of oil exploration in Trinidad begins in 1857 with the drilling by the Merimac company of an oil well in La Brea. That first producing well went to a depth of 280 feet. It is interesting to note that the first producing well in Trinidad was drilled two years before Drake's well in Pennsylvania in the United States of America. The Merimac company however went into liquidation and production of oil lapsed. That however was not the end of oil exploration. Indeed it is reported that in 1858 - 1859 when cutting the Cipero Tramway between San Fernando and Princes Town, oil was found. This discovery led Walter Darwent to form the Paria Oil Company and drill two wells in San Fernando. Unfortunately both wells were dry holes. Darwent then switched to drilling in the Aripero area and in 1867 at a depth of 160 feet completed a successful well, approximately 4 miles east of the Pitch Lake. Darwent unfortunately contracted malaria and died in 1868. He is buried in La Brea. Exploration activity temporarily died with Darwent.

In 1870, a hunter took a sample of a black substance to a Chinese shop keeper, Mr. Lee Lum, in Guyaguyare. The hunter recounted that there were areas in the Guayaguayare forest where gas escaped from the ground and they would light the gas to cook their meals. Lee Lum sent the substance to London for analysis and it was confirmed as high quality petroleum. Thus in 1901, Randolph Rust in partnership with Lee Lum and with Canadian financial backing began prospecting for oil in Guayaguayare. In 1902 at a depth of 1,015 feet oil was found and the well produced at a rate of 100 barrels per day. Eight additional producing wells were drilled but by 1907 the company folded, being unable to transport the oil out of the Guayaguayare forests.

In 1907, Arthur Beeby-Thompson struck oil in Point Fortin. Thompson's company, Trinidad Oilfields Limited then drilled several more wells in the Point Fortin area, with one in 1912 in the Parry Lands area flowing at a rate of 10,000 barrels per day from 1,400 feet. Other companies were then formed and began drilling in the areas around Point Fortin. In 1909, the Trinidad Lake Petroleum Company drilled a successful well in La Brea and in 1912 successfully drilled in Vessigny. In 1912, Stollmeyer struck oil at 250 feet in Guapo.  These developments in the Point Fortin area led to the successful development of the petroleum industry in Trinidad. In 1913, Trinidad Leaseholds Limited was formed and drilled the first producing well in Forest Reserve in 1914. Trinidad Central Oilfields began successfully prospecting for oil in Tabaquite.

Today, although the majority of the petroleum and gas is found offshore, there is still oil production on land in Trinidad. As you drive through areas of south Trinidad, you can still see many of the old oil fields releasing the black gold that has driven the Trinidad economy for over 100 years. In areas such as Penal, Moruga, Palo Seco, Forest Reserve, Tabaquite, Point Fortin, Erin, Fyzabad, Siparia, pumping jacks still work up and down and pipelines snake across the countryside. (For photographs of pumping jacks see the Picture Gallery)

Point Fortin

Point Fortin can be considered the town that oil created. The area that is today called Point Fortin was originally named Punta del Guapo after the river that was called Rio Guapo. Although the river does not look so today, this was a beautiful area in Spanish times as Guapo means beautiful or handsome. Under the Cedula de Populacion in 1783, land was granted to a Messier. Fortin for the establishment of a sugar cane estate. The abolition of slavery led to a decline in the sugar estates. In the early 1900's however the estates prospered again with cocoa production. The names of these former estates survive today as names for areas or roads in Point Fortin, so we have Adventure Road from Adventure Estate, Clifton Hill from Clifton Hill Estate, and la Fortunee. Point Fortin was still a remote area and it is recorded that even in 1931, the population was less than 500 persons.

It was the coming of Arthur Beeby-Thompson and his discovery of oil in 1907 that led to the development of the area. The first oil well was sunk on La Fortunee Estate. At this time Point Fortin was surrounded by thick forests and workers suffered from malaria and yellow fever. The drilling however continued and continuing discovery of producing wells led to the growth of Point Fortin and indeed the development of the oil industry for all of Trinidad. In 1910 a small unit was established in Point Fortin to refine crude oil. In 1916, UBOT established a larger refinery in Point Fortin. With the growth of oil exploration in Point Fortin there were insufficient workers as Trinidadians were not attracted to Point Fortin because of the lack of amenities in the area. In order to obtain workers, in the 1920's the company brought workers from Grenada, many of whom remained in Point Fortin and their descendants still live in the area. In order however to attract more workers the company began to develop the areas around Point Fortin and so built houses in Techier, Mahaica and Clifton Hill. In addition other areas developed such as Point Ligoure, Egypt Village and New Village. The growth of the area then led to the establishment of a Post Office, Police Station and other commercial enterprises. Not only did Point Fortin lead in the development of oil drilling in Trinidad but it led in the development of new petroleum technology. The first well drilled completely using rotary drilling was Parry Lands No. D4 in 1914 that went to a depth of 580 feet. In 1954, UBOT created Trinmar (an acronym for Trinidad Marine Areas) and began drilling off shore of Point Fortin which was the first off shore oil exploration. In 1955, production from Trinmar's Soldado field began. In 1958 the first well was started on a platform 1.2 miles offshore from Brighton, La Brea. The platform was designed to accommodate 36 wells which was a world record for this type of platform.

Thompson's company Trinidad Oilfields Limited, became United British Oilfields of Trinidad (UBOT) in 1913 and then Shell Trinidad Limited in 1957 and in 1974 was acquired by the Government and became Trintoc and then Petrotrin.

As you drive through Point Fortin today you can reflect on the determination and hardiness of the men who labored to discover oil in the area and the impact those discoveries had on the fortunes of Trinidad and Tobago.

Markets

Open air markets are a colorful, vibrant microcosm of West Indian life that can be found in every town and village in Trinidad. All types of tropical fruits, vegetables and spices are displayed and sold at these markets as well as freshly butchered meats and fish. At these markets not only food items are sold but you can find clothes, shoes, home utensils and even CDs or DVDs. An open-air market is a great place to shop or just wander the aisles and soak in the atmosphere. The larger and more varied markets can be found at Debe, Tunapuna and the Central Market on the Beetham Highway on the outskirts of Port of Spain.

US_Army_Bases_in_Trinidad

by Brian Ramsey

Many people know of the US military bases at Chaguaramas and at Cumuto, but how many individuals realise that there were numerous other US military bases in Trinidad.

The advent of World War II led to the Destroyer-Base Agreement (also called the Lend-Lease agreement) on September 2^nd 1940 between Britain and the United States of America under which Britain granted land in Trinidad to the U.S. for the establishment of U. S. military bases. Other territories in which land was granted for bases under this agreement were Newfoundland, Bermuda, Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and Guyana. At the time Trinidad was a British colony and so Britain was able to grant the land. The first group of soldiers arrived in Trinidad on 24^th April 1941 and set up a tent camp at Piarco Field, awaiting the planes which arrived on 28^th April. The third group arrived on 5^th May 1941, at which time the majority of men were moved to a tent camp on reclaimed land near the Port of Spain docks.

Although the original deal with Britain was for 2 bases (Chagaramas and Cumoto), in the end there were 225 U. S. military bases in Trinidad. Some of these bases were very small such as at the Verdant Vale quarry, which is located along the road between Arima and Blanchissuesse.

The area of Cumoto was one of the first locations for an army base and Fort Read was established. Within Fort Read was constructed Waller Field airstrip at which two mile long runways were built by June 1942. Other airfields that were constructed in Trinidad and Tobago by the US military during World War II were Carlsen Field, Camden Field, Edinburgh Field, Mucurapo Field, Crown Point Tobago, Toco, Mayaro, Point Fortin and Union Park. At Edinburghthey built a 5,000 foot runway. The outline of the airfield at Toco can still be seen and is located to the west of the Galera Lighthouse. The old airfield at Point Fortin is also still visible although heavily overgrown with brush.

One of the other bases established by the American military was the North Manzanilla Jungle Warfare School. This was the first such school operated by the US Army and was created to prepare troops to fight in South-east Asia. Originally it was located in the Aripo foothills and today the only sign of that warfare school is the name etched on the wall of a water installation.

Early in the war the school was moved to North Manzanilla. It extended from the sea for a distance of 5 miles inland and was a restricted army base, where live ammunition was used in the training. This warfare school operated throughout World War II and after the war was transferred to Panama. Camp Road that leads from North Manzanilla beach to Manzanilla Point was the site of the camp and still has World War II ruins. To day the road is more of an agricultural trace but can be easily traversed on foot or by a 4 wheel drive vehicle in the dry season. As you walk along this road, which follows the contours of the land, there are points at which you can look over the surrounding land and easily understand why it was chosen for a Jungle Warfare School.

The US military also had Gun Posts at Manzanilla Point, Radix Point, Pointe-a-Pierre, Green Hill, Chacachacare, Monos, Gaspar Grande, Nelson Island, Mucurapo Point, Laventille and Icacos. During World War II a 4.7-inch cannon was installed on Gaspar Grande on the ridge overlooking Point Baleine to complement another 4.7-inch cannon that had been placed there during World War I. At the end of the war, two 6-inch guns replaced the original 4.7-inch cannons and these guns, which are a 25-minute walk from Point Baleine, are still present on the island. On Chacachacare, part of the island was given to the US armed forces and a battalion of 600 men was based on the island. They built nine military barracks, installed coastal defense guns and built a road to the top of the 865-foot (260-meter) main peak.

To supplement the island’s coastal defenses there were radar installations at Morne Bleau, La Lune and Charlotteville in Tobago.

Along with the airfields and gun posts that the Americans created around Port of Spain, they also established Camp Ogden on Long Circular Road in St James. Camp Ogden continues to be a military base and is now used by the Trinidad Defense Force. The headquarters for the American military in Trinidad and Tobago was based in the historic Whitehall building on the western side of the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain.

The reason for all these bases is that Trinidad was a strategic location during World War II. It was part of the US defense chain for protecting the approaches to the southern part of the United States of America from attack by the Germans. Trinidad’s location made it suitable as a staging area for moving aircraft to eastern South America. In addition, during World War II, Pointe-A-Pierre had the largest oil refinery in the British Empire. It was therefore important to protect this source of refined petroleum products to ensure continued supplies for the war effort. The geography of Trinidad and its separation from Venezuela millions of years ago to create the Gulf of Paria, was also another reason for the large military presence. The Gulf of Paria is the largest natural harbour in the Western Hemisphere, so it was the terminus of the North Atlantic convoy route. Along with the American military, the Brazilian navy had ships based in Trinidad for escort duty between Trinidad and Rio de Janeiro. Yet another reason for the military presence was that the Bauxite route bringing bauxite from Surinam and Guyana for shipment to the U.S. for making aluminum also passed through the Gulf of Paria.

An excellent source for additional information on the US military presence in Trinidad is the Chaguaramas Military History Museum.

A bird identification guide with information on over 332 tropical birds and over 820 photographs

A bird identification guide with information on over 332 tropical birds and over 820 photographs