This small museum is located on the ground floor of Par-la-Ville, the former home of Hamilton’s famous postmaster William Bennet Perot. It’s run by a team of knowledgeable volunteers, always keen to give visitors additional information about the items on display. Some, like Andrew Bermingham, are respected historians and published authors.
A much needed revamp was completed in 2008. It’s not a huge museum like the National Museum of Bermuda. Visiting here is much more like browsing an interesting antique shop. There are numerous displays covering various periods of Bermuda’s history and many of the remarkable people that have made significant contributions to the island’s cultural heritage.
Artefacts on display include 18th century cedar furniture, portraits of Perot and Sir George Somers, early Bermuda coins, antique maps, silverware, china, and glassware, and a fine antique carriage clock.
The building itself was completed by Perot’s father in 1814. The Perot Post Office was later built in the grounds, now Queen Elizabeth Park. Both the post office and park are well worth visiting while you’re in the area. Many of the trees still standing in the park were planted by Perot himself. Just outside the museum is a famous Indian rubber tree, planted by the postmaster in 1847.
The museum is open on weekdays between 10 am and 2 pm during the summer, with reduced hours in the winter months. Admission is free but donations towards operating costs are welcome. It’s situated on Queen Street in Hamilton, just across the road from Hamilton Ferry Terminal and a 5 minute walk from the bus station.
The Bermuda National Library is housed on the upper floor of the building. It boasts an impressive collection of local books and publications, plus copies of newspapers dating back to 1784. It’s also one of just a handful of places on the island offering free internet access. WiFi plus a small number of terminals are available.
Nearby Attractions
Tourist attractions and things to do near Bermuda Historical Society Museum include:
Nearby Restaurants
Restaurants and places to eat and drink near Bermuda Historical Society Museum include:
-
Little Venice (0.1 miles) - Founded in 1971, the Little Venice is Bermuda’s oldest Italian restaurant.
-
L'Oriental (0.1 miles) - Asian fusion restaurant in Hamilton’s business district. Best known for its sushi and teppanyaki. Situated above the Little Venice.
-
Portofino (0.1 miles) - Established Italian restaurant in Hamilton’s business district.
-
Angelo's Bistro (0.1 miles) - Italian cafe in the Walker Arcade in Hamilton. Indoor or atrium seating. Italian food with a local twist.
-
Lobster Pot (0.1 miles) - Seafood restaurant established in 1973. Close to Queen Elizabeth Park.
-
La Trattoria (0.1 miles) - Family-friendly Italian restaurant in the centre of Hamilton. Known for its pizzas; cooked in a wood-burning brick oven.
-
The Pickled Onion (0.1 miles) - Bar and restaurant on Front Street, Hamilton. Veranda offers excellent view of Hamilton Harbour. Live music and DJs.
-
The Terrace on Front Street (0.1 miles) - Restaurant on Front Street. Outdoor terrace has fantastic views of Front Street and Hamilton Harbour. Formerly Red Steakhouse.
-
Hog Penny (0.1 miles) - British-style pub just off Front Street. Cosy wooden interior. Reputed to be the inspiration for the Cheers pub in Boston. Live music in the evenings.
-
Barracuda Grill (0.1 miles) - Seafood restaurant in Hamilton, just off Front Street. Specialises in seafood but also offers meat options. Located above the Hog Penny pub.
-
Devil's Isle (0.1 miles) - Busy cafe and bar in Hamilton. Hip and casual.
-
Mad Hatters (0.2 miles) - Innovative restaurant offering an eclectic menu. Restaurant is loosely theme around Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Diners can don one of their wacky hats for the night. Located in Pembroke, near the Robin Hood pub, and just a short walk from Hamilton.
-
Flanagan's (0.2 miles) - Irish pub located in a prime spot on Front Street in Hamilton. Veranda offers excellent views of Hamilton Harbour. Incorporates a separate sports bar.
-
The Astwood Arms (0.2 miles) - British style pub on Hamilton’s main street. Friendly staff. Live music and NFL/Premier League games.
-
Bouchee (0.2 miles) - French bistro at the western end of Hamilton, close to the Hamilton Princess. Formerly Monty’s.
-
Ruby Murrys (0.2 miles) - Indian restaurant just off Front Street. Reasonable prices.
-
Rock Island Coffee (0.2 miles) - Coffeeshop in Hamilton known for its delicious baked goods. Walls display works by local artists.
-
The Dog House (0.2 miles) - Popular bar on Front Street. Live music and Premier League/NFL games. Outdoor terrace.
-
Robin Hood Pub and Restaurant (0.2 miles) - Popular pub on the outskirts of Hamilton. Shows Premier League games.
-
Bolero Brasserie (0.2 miles) - Upscale brasserie on Hamilton’s main street. Chef owned. Offers a small balcony with view of Front Street and Hamilton Harbour.
-
Harry's (0.3 miles) - Restaurant and bar overlooking Hamilton Harbour. Close to the Hamilton Princess.
-
Huckleberry Restaurant (0.3 miles) - Restaurant at the Rosedon Hotel. Named in honour of Mark Twain, a frequent visitor to Bermuda. Seasonally-inspired menu. Gorgeous terrace.
-
Docksider (0.4 miles) - Pub and restaurant at the eastern end of Front Street. Menu offers pub grub, burgers, sandwiches, and pizza. Popular watering hole. Live sports, DJs etc. Reasonably close to Fort Hamilton.
-
Rosa's (0.4 miles) - Established Tex-Mex restaurant in Hamilton. Offers burgers, burritos, quesadillas, tacos, fajitas, steaks etc. Located above Docksider.
-
Marcus' (0.4 miles) - Marcus Samuelsson's restaurant at the Hamilton Princess.
-
Ascots (0.4 miles) - Long-established restaurant at the Royal Palms Hotel. Situated in Pembroke, within easy walking distance of Hamilton.
-
1609 Bar and Restaurant (0.5 miles) - Harbourfront bar and restaurant at the Hamilton Princess. Alfresco dining with fantastic views of Hamilton Harbour.
-
House of India (0.5 miles) - Indian restaurant at the northern end of Hamilton. Specialises in Tandoor-cooked dishes. Takeaway service available.
-
Beau Rivage (0.6 miles) - French restaurant at Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort and Spa. Awesome views of Hamilton Harbour.
-
Harbourfront Restaurant (0.8 miles) - Restaurant at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. Offers a sushi and tempura bar. Stunning views of Hamilton Harbour.
-
Art Mel's Spicy Dicy (0.9 miles) - Takeaway renowned for its fish sandwiches. Located a fair distance from the centre of Hamilton.
-
Ice Queen (0.9 miles) - Takeaway in Paget Parish. Offers burgers, chicken wings and nuggets, fries etc. Open late.
Nearby Hotels
Hotels near Bermuda Historical Society Museum include:
- Rosedon Hotel (0.3 miles)
- Hamilton Princess (0.4 miles)
- Royal Palms Hotel (0.4 miles)
- Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort & Spa (0.6 miles)
Nearby Transport Links
Transport links near Bermuda Historical Society Museum include:
Please update your information on the Museum. It is open year round from Monday through Friday from 10:30 am till 1:00 pm and the same hours on many Saturdays. Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
I visited here and found the museum quite small but interesting. Then I went into the library. You don’t need to be a member of the library to go in and read the books. The staff were helpful and there were lots of books about Bermuda. They also had free internet.
The museum is difficult to find if you aren’t familiar with Bermuda. It’s in the same building as the library and just a short walk from Hamilton ferry terminal. The volunteer (?) working there was very knowledgeable and helpful. Entrance is free but there is a donation box. It’s a must for anybody in interested in history.
Very interesting place. A great place to visit on a rainy day. It’s not that big. I guess you could spend an hour in here at most. The attendant was extremely knowledgeable and gave additional insight into many of the exhibits we looked at. It’s a very good place to learn about the history of Bermuda and its people.
Visited on a Wednesday. Lady volunteers very helpful with my research. nice warm Welcome. Well recommended to come on a Wednesday and chat with these volunteers who can provide valuable insights if you are a history buff and interested in Bermuda.
Flashes from photography damages the paintings over time. That’s why.
We visited the museum on Saturday when it was supposed to be closed. It happened that the curator, Mr. Berminham, was there and opened it up for us and allowed us to walk around for about an hour. He was very generous with his time and sharing of information. For any history buff, it’s a must see.
We just came back from Bermuda and we truly enjoyed this museum. It was the docent’s first day and she did a great job explaining the exciting artefacts we found there.
I just went Bermuda and it is cool. Fort St. Catherine is the best and so is BUEI. I can’t wait to go back there this summer.
This is a small museum so I wouldn’t recommend coming into Hamilton specifically to visit it. Combine it with a shopping trip. It’s quite interesting although the staff seem paranoid about you taking pictures. Not sure what they thought I was going to do with them.