King’s Square is located by the harbour and connects it with Water Street and York Street in St. George. As a historic focal point and town centre, the square provides a clear starting point for exploring the area. The building history around the square offers one way to discover Saint George’s; cultural themes extend beyond it and also include Bermuda’s history. This allows you to get to know the area from different perspectives: through its streets and buildings, its historical themes and its distinctive architecture.
King’s Square: Centre and Building History
Among the colonial-era buildings around King’s Square is the Town Hall, dating from 1782. Its interior, made of Bermuda cedar, adds a specific detail to the building’s history. The building housing the Bank of Butterfield also speaks to different periods: it dates from 1776 and served as a dining room during the American Revolution. The square is therefore flanked by a Town Hall with a recorded date and cedar interiors, and a building with a named former use. King’s Square is not just a landmark in the town centre, but also a place where history can be read in its buildings.
Insights into Bermuda’s History and Culture
The African Diaspora Heritage Trail runs through St. George and explores the history and legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, as well as the people who have shaped Bermuda’s culture and history. This broadens the focus beyond construction dates and building uses: people and historical contexts take centre stage. If you are interested in this part of history, the trail offers a dedicated way to explore St. George.
The Globe Museum
The Globe Museum connects the history of a building with several historical themes. It is housed in a building constructed in 1700 that served as Bermuda’s second Government House; today it is a museum of the Bermuda National Trust. The museum shows films about St. George, explores the island’s early settlement and presents the “Rogues and Runners” exhibition about Bermuda’s role in the American Civil War. It also features archaeological finds from shipwrecks and excavations on the island, models of the first settlement ships and the early town, antique furniture and historical artefacts. The museum also has a garden. Its themes range from early settlement, finds and models to later historical events. If you are planning to see particular exhibitions, check the museum’s current information before your visit; exhibition details may change.
Architecture in Contrast with the Landscape
The Unfinished Church is located in the historic Town of St. George. Its pointed arches and weathered grey stone contrast with the lush tropical vegetation. The upward-tapering arches give the structure a distinctive form, while the stone and greenery highlight the contrast with the landscape. Here, the emphasis is on architecture and its relationship with the surroundings, unlike the historical themes and collection objects at the Globe Museum.
Choosing the Focus of Your Stay
The attractions differ in what they focus on: King’s Square connects the town centre with building history, the Heritage Trail explores the legacy of the slave trade, the Globe Museum presents a range of historical themes, and the Unfinished Church offers an architectural highlight. If you are looking for a hotel in Saint George’s, you can first consider which of these focuses matters most for your trip.
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