Hamilton Museums and Art Galleries

(Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda)

Hamilton has several of the best museums in Bermuda, but nothing can compare to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) at nearby Flatts Village. Visitors (especially families) who only have time for one institute will want to make this museum-style aquarium a definite priority.

Beyond that, there are several small collections of Bermudan coins, postage stamps and other colonial artefacts in galleries around Hamilton. For a comprehensive tour of Bermudan art, head to the National Gallery in the City Hall building on Church Street, close to Victoria Park and Ascot House.

Bermuda Maritime Museum (BMM)

Address: 1 The Keep, Old Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 234 1418
Housed in the 10-acre / 4-hectare Keep citadel and part of the Old Royal Naval Dockyard attraction, this museum chronicles no less than five centuries of Bermudan maritime tradition. It displays a host of artefacts, artillery, cannons and maritime art. The grounds themselves are also worth exploring, with the main buildings on the Lower Ground being the Boatloft, the Forster Cooper Building, the Shell House, the Shifting House and the Queen's Exhibition Hall. The Upper Ground is where you will find the Bastions, the Commissioner's House and the Conservation Laboratory. There are also excellent sea views to be savoured, while a dolphin encounter programme known as the 'Dolphin Quest' is regularly staged here at the fortress.
Open hours: daily - 09:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge, children under 13 years old are free

Bermuda Historical Society Museum

Address: Par-la-Ville Park, Hamilton, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 295 2487
This museum is located in the heart of Hamilton, in the former home of Bermuda's first postmaster. It displays artefacts from the earliest colonial days, including imported porcelain, old maps, original portraits and Bermudan coins. The highlight is the sea chest of the Sea Venture, a ship that stranded itself on Bermudan reefs in the early 17th century. The much-visited Bermuda Historical Society Museum adjoins the national library, which stocks practically every book that was ever written in Bermuda or by a Bermudan.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 09:30 to 15:30
Admission: free

Bermuda National Gallery (BNG)

Address: 17 Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 295 9428
The National Gallery is housed on the first floor of the City Hall building. This is the best collection of Bermudan art anywhere in the world, but it also has a great deal of work by international artists, such as both Rembrandt and Gainsborough. Founded in 1992 by the Bermuda Fine Art Trust, the gallery contains numerous impressive paintings from around Europe, many of which form the prestigious Watlington Collection, bequested to the Government of Bermuda. Each year, there are usually three large temporary exhibitions (often sponsored), together with a host of smaller installations and various art-related events. Side attractions include a collection of African masks, and a stamp and coin exhibit.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Underwater Exploration Institute

Address: 40 Crow Lane, Hamilton, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 292 7219
Within easy walking distance of Hamilton city centre, the Underwater Exploration Institute offers a refreshing change of pace from the standard museums and art galleries found here. Visitors are greeted by a real 500-pound squid hanging in the entrance hall. The shipwreck gallery is filled with rare treasures pulled from the North Atlantic sea floor, many of which were recovered by renowned treasure hunter Teddy Tucker.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Bermuda Cabinet Building

Address: 105 Front Street, Hamilton, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 292 5501
The Cabinet Building's Front Street location makes it an especially prominent landmark in Hamilton. The building itself dates to 1833 and is impressive, but the real attraction for tourists is the collection found inside. It houses icons of the government, including the Silver Oar and Mace, and the Sword of the State. Outside is a poignant monument honouring the country's war dead. Over the years, many famous leaders have met in the Cabinet Building, including UK prime ministers Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, and US presidents George Bush and John F. Kennedy. Outside is the Bermuda Cenotaph, which commemorates those Bermudians who lost their lives during the world wars.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ)

Address: 40 North Shore Road, Flatts Village, Bermuda, BM
Tel: +1 441 293 2727
Established in 1926 by the Bermuda Government and billed as an aquarium, this world-class institute is actually more of a family attraction crossed with a museum. The Bermuda Aquarium has more than a few dazzling exhibits, including one of the world's most impressive living coral reef displays. Many of the exhibits are designed not only to be interesting and entertaining, but also educational, promoting conservation where possible. Another interesting exhibit follows the life cycles of cetaceans (marine mammals), while the adjoining zoo houses tropical birds, lumbering Galapagos tortoises, Parma wallabies, Red-necked wallabies, Golden Lion tamarins, Ring-tailed lemurs and Oriental otters. There are also flamingos, spoonbills, ibis and a group of harbor seals.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children