The Barbados Museum & Historical Society (BMHS) was established in 1933 by an Act of Parliament. Located in Barbados' UNESCO World Heritage Property, the Barbados Museum's galleries are housed in 19th-century military prison buildings and reveal the island's rich history, culture, and heritage. The BMHS collection of over 500,000 artifacts, dating from prehistoric times through the 21st century, tells the story of the people of Barbados and preserves the island's history for future generations.
Museum's Journey to Ninety: Our Stories, Our Museum
Over the next 3 years the Barbados Museum will be embarking in a major redevelopment of three of its permanent galleries, its carpark and surroundings. The aim is for the redevelopment to be completed in time for the Museum's 90th Anniversary. The new Galleries promise to be exciting, interactive, fascinating and educational. Follow us on social media if you wish to join us on our journey to 90.
Museum Tours
Visit the Museum and enjoy a nice scenic, and educational experience which will enlighten you about the natural, social and art history of the island. A self guided tour takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour but you can take as long as you wish and enjoy the beautiful courtyards as you traverse from one gallery to the next.
Museum Gift Shop
If you are looking for Barbadian items to purchase, the Museum Gift Shop is the place to visit! The Museum Gift Shop has a wide range of items to peak the interest of everyone. Here you can find books published by the Museum itself like the Museum's annual Journal, Place Names of Barbados and books from out (Re)writing history series, as well as other locally written books of all genres. You can also find souvenirs, pottery, bags, botanicals, jewelry, prints, maps, toys and even locally made treats for persons to enjoy.
Shilstone Memorial Library
The Shilstone Memorial Library is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Rare West Indian documents, photographs, and hard-to-find books enable research of all types including family history research.
Events Venue
The Barbados Museum offers captivating 19th-century courtyards in a central location for any type of event. Whether you're planning a wedding, a birthday or cocktail party, a Christmas dinner, graduation or a fashion show, the beautiful outdoor setting will exceed your expectations.
Walled Garden Theatre
The Barbados Museum has a state of the art Theatre which has all the necessary sound and lighting equipment for those who may be interested in hosting plays, concerts, dance shows, singing or talent competitions and so much more.
Children's Gallery
Come visit our new interactive Children's Gallery from June 2021. The Children's Gallery is a place where children can be educated and have fun as they explore, discover and learn all at the same time. There are many varying interactive displays for them to play with.
COVID-19 Protocols
The safety of the staff and all visitors to the Museum is important to us, therefore when visiting the Museum you are required to wear your mask, sanitize your hands, record your temperature and give your contact information in the event it is needed for contact tracing. There are sanitization stations around the compound and galleries are constantly cleaned throughout the day to ensure your safety.
FOLLOW US
Keep up to date with all the latest news, events, and more by following us on social media @barbadosmuseum.
You can find us on Facebook, Twitter ,YouTube, and Instagram.
The Home of Barbadian History & Culture
