Nelson’s Dockyard National Park

St. John’s is the capital and largest city of Antigua and Barbuda, a country located in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea, it is the commercial center of the nation and the chief port of the island of Antigua. As you approach St. John’s, the skyline is dominated by the magnificently evocative white baroque towers of St. John’s Cathedral. Built in 1845, the church is now in its third incarnation, as earthquakes in 1683 and in 1745 destroyed the previous structures.

Fully restored to its original splendor, the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century buildings of Nelson’s Dockyard house modern amenities such as shops, hotels and marina businesses.

Depart from the pier area and take a scenic and picturesque drive through villages as you pass beaches and eventually make your way through the rainforest.

Once you have reached the dockyards you will see historic forts dotting the landscape of the park accessible by hiking trails which allow visitors to enjoy the park’s scenic and natural beauty. There are endless opportunities to capture the beauty of the parks, with many glorious boats in the dockyard, the beautiful harbor, the historic sites and the unforgettable views from places such as Shirley Heights, bring your camera or you will surely have regrets that you didn’t.

In the early eighteenth century, the British Royal Navy recognized the strategic importance of English Harbor in protecting ships from hurricanes and in its position at the south of the island for monitoring French naval activity. Throughout the eighteenth century, the dockyard grew in importance, as it was the only harbor in the Eastern Caribbean large enough for safe naval ship repairs. From 1784 through 1787, the British Hero of Trafalgar, Horatio Nelson, served as the captain of the H.M.S Boreas, sent to Antigua to enforce British laws in the colonies. When the restoration of the dockyard began in the 1950’s, it was renamed Nelson’s Dockyard in honor of the years he spent in Antigua.

Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, today, Nelson’s Dockyard provides many sites and activities for visitors to explore and enjoy. The Dockyard Museum, located in the former Admiral’s House, presents visitors with exhibits regarding the Dockyard’s history and current archaeological research on the island. The Copper and Lumber Store Hotel offers five-star accommodations and is a magnificent venue for special occasions. Businesses including gift shops, art galleries, and restaurants also reside in the Dockyard and demonstrate how the park preserves the area’s unique cultural heritage while meeting modern needs.