Museum of Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua


In a stately 1750 courthouse, this modest museum traces the history of Antigua from its geological origins to its political independence in 1981. The hodgepodge of objects includes Arawak pottery, models of sugar plantations and the cricket bat of hometown hero Sir Viv Richards. On display outside are four narrow-gauge locomotives from the early 20th century once used to transport sugarcane.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Antigua attractions

1. 39ers Public Square

0.12 MILES

Created in 2016, this car-free square is dominated by a boat-shaped red-granite monument that honors Sir Vere Cornwall Bird and the other men and women…

2. St John’s Cathedral

0.14 MILES

This twin-spired cathedral is St John’s most prominent landmark. What you see today is the third house of worship on the site. The original wooden one…

3. Monument to Sir Vere Cornwall Bird

0.27 MILES

This colorful monument on a little triangular plaza near the public market honors the man who became independent Antigua and Barbuda's first prime…

4. Public Market

0.32 MILES

Forage for exotic local produce such as sorrel, black pineapple and sugar apple alongside more familiar bananas, limes, mangoes and eggplants at St John's…

5. Fort James

1.41 MILES

Fort James, a small stronghold at the north side of St John’s Harbour, dates back to 1706, but most of what you see today was built in 1739. Still…

6. Runaway Bay

1.88 MILES

If you're keen on escaping the all-inclusive crowds at busy Dickenson Bay, head south beyond a small bluff to Runaway Bay, where the beach is just as…

7. Dickenson Bay

2.5 MILES

Antigua's busiest beach is backed by a long line of low-rise hotels and resorts, most notably the vast all-inclusive Sandals resort. Naturally, there's no…

8. Deep Bay

2.74 MILES

Lorded over by the ruins of Fort Barrington, this curvy little – and often deserted – bay is backed by a large salt pond and has a beach with gray-yellow…