Bermuda Maritime Museum
Bermuda's largest fort, the Keep, was originally constructed to defend the Royal Naval Dockyard. Today, the 6-acre fortress is the home to the Bermuda Maritime Museum. Nowadays, its moat and 30-foot-high walls effectively keep out visitors not willing to pay the $10 admission charge. Dedicated to Bermuda's rich maritime history, the museum presents Bermuda's most extensive artifact collections and historic exhibits within the Keep's historic buildings.
Elevated high inside the Keep citadel is the magnificent Commissioner's House. Once the home of the Dockyard Commissioner, it is the world's first cast-iron structure and considered to be Bermuda's most important building. Rescued from near dereliction through the museum's award-winning restoration, this grand 1820s Georgian house presents an array of new exhibits and special collections. A labyrinth of limestone and brick rooms on the ground floor showcases Bermuda's military history, with a focus on local fortifications, militias, and war veterans. Two upper floors dressed in mahogany moldings feature rare Bermuda coin, map, archival, and art collections along with installations on local slavery, cultural connections, and foreign military forces.
The museum's exhibits also extend to several converted gunpowder magazines on the lower grounds. These displays chronicle Bermuda's rich maritime history, from early 16th-century discovery to present day, including Bermuda's long association with the Royal Navy. Artifacts from the 1609 Sea Venture and other ships wrecked off Bermuda, a fine collection of Bermuda-made boats, and extensive artillery collections are all on show.
Commissioner's House and the ramparts offer spectacular views of the Dockyard and the island. Inside the grounds of Bermuda Maritime Museum, at the fort's naval ammunition transit waterway, are the dolphins and interactive programs of Dolphin Quest. Interactive dolphin experiences are not included in the museum entrance fee but visitors are free to watch.