Tour Kingston Jamaica

Largest English speaking city south of Miami (pop. 900,000) and commercial center of Jamaica located on the island's southeast coast. Founded in 1692 by the survivors of the Port Royal earthquake and capital of Jamaica since 1872.

Kingston Area Code is 809.

• Devon House - 929-7029
  26 Hope Rd. / Open Tues-Sat 9:30AM-5PM.
  Built 1881 by one of the first black millionaries of the Caribbean, George Stiebel.

• Jamaica House - Adjacent to Devon House and home to the Prime Minister of Jamaica.

• King's House - Official residence of the Governor-General of Jamaica located on 200 acres of parkland. Open Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM.

• Botanical Gardens

• University of West Indies - Founded 1948 on the Kona Sugar Estate, includes ruins and museum of old sugar mills, storehouses and aquaducts. Good exhibits on early sugar production methods.

• National Library of Jamaica - 922-0620
  12 East St. Open Sept-June, Mon-Fri 9AM-4PM.
  Best library in the Caribbean for West Indies cultural and historical studies. Vast collection of rare books, newspapers, photos and maps.

• Bob Marley Museum - 927-9152
  56 Hope Rd, Open Mon-Sat 9AM-5PM.
  The most visited attraction in Kingston is the home and recording studio of this famous reggae singer who lived here until his death.

Spanish Town was the capital of English Jamaica 1662-1872 after being sacked by Cromwell in 1655. It is located just a few miles outside of Kingston.

Points of Interest:

• St. Jago de la Vega - Built by the English in 1666, this edifice was destroyed by a hurricane in 1712 and rebuilt two years later.

• Old King's House - Famous great house has entertained many famous guests including Lord Nelson, Admiral Rodney, Captain Bligh of the HMS Bounty, and King William IV.

• Town Square

• Jamaica People's Museum of Craft & Technology - Educational hands-on learning center

• Arawak Museum - Exhibits about the history and culture of Jamaica's first inhabitants.

Located across the bay from Kingston is Port Royal - a very famous Caribbean fortress. Formerly the largest (and most wicked) city and trading center of the new world, it gained early notariety as the fortress of pirate Henry Morgan.

On June 7, 1692 at 11:43AM the good times came to an end when a massive earthquake struck and upto one-third of the town disappeared under the water. Today there are several ruins and museums in Port Royal that bear evidence of the massive power of this extraordinary event.

Points of Interest:

• Fort Charles - of the six forts on the bay, this was the best survivor of the Port Royal earthquake. It also endured attacks, fire and hurricanes over the centuries. At one time over a hundred cannon stood behind its walls. In 1779 it was the base for famous British admiral and hero, Lord Horatio Nelson.

• Fort Charles Maritime Musuem - Scale models of forts and ships of the past. Open Mon-Fri, 10AM-4PM.

• Giddy House - Former storehouse for the Royal Artillery but was greatly ruined by the earthquake.

• St. Peters Church