Carter House Museum
34 Southside Road, St. David's Island, Bermuda
Bermuda – The First One Hundred Years
Our vision is to bring 17th century Bermuda to life, the first 100 years. The first timber framed mud and stud palmetto thatched home to the first Bermuda limestone home in a span of 100 years. To accentuate the historic appearance of the site we have planted many endemic and native trees and plants with lovely gardens of Bermuda Mystery Roses including the beautifully scented agrippina. By arrangement we will reenact the period for visitor groups by dressing in period costume and demonstrating early building techniques, tools and materials. We will also illustrate the 18th and 17th century lifestyle and challenges always encouraging interaction. The Islanders said “eat it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”.. or make it yourself from the natural resources. The palmetto is the “everything tree” because it served so many purposes “without which tree life in Bermuda would not have been so commodious.”
St David’s island Historical Society completed THE SITE RESTORATION PROJECT – “Bermuda, the first 100 years”
We have removed from this site many invasive and unnatural plants, shrubs and trees such as Pittosporum, Natal plum, Match-me-if-you- can, Pride of India, Fiddlewood, Oleander, Jumby bean, Naupaka and Mexican pepper (all at or around Carter House).We are restoring the site to its 18th/17th century appearance by planting native and endemic plants, shrubs and trees which are naturally salt and wind resistant.
We currently have over 40 native and endemic species on the site – some unusual/rare ones – all named and with a guide map. these include Seven-year apple (rare), Rhacoma, Jamaica dogwood, Sedge, Lamark’s trema (rare), Turnera, Box briar and Darrel’s Fleabane (endemic). We have all pre-settlement trees including cedar, olivewood, palmetto, yellow wood (rare), hackberry, wax myrtle, bay grape and mulberry.
Our intention is to add more native/endemic species as and when we can get them but not all will grow well at this location, for example mangroves.
We also have the vision of creating a ring of parks in St Davids all connected by curated trails and transport to facilitate access, starting with Annies Bay Park to be created with a land restoration management plan. see the St David’s Community Plan still with Government.
GALLERY OF AND AROUND CARTER HOUSE
GALLERY OF NATIVE AND ENDEMIC WILDLIFE
Carter House Museum 