The Bermuda National Trust Museum is housed in one of Bermuda’s oldest stone buildings. Built around 1700 by Governor Samuel Day it was originally used as his residence. At some point in the mid-19th century it was the site of the Globe Hotel.
During the American Civil War it served as headquarters to Confederate agents. Bermuda was a staging post for cotton shipments to England from Confederate ports such as Wilmington, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina. Speedy steamships would run the Union blockades and unload their cargo in Bermuda. Here it would be transferred to ships heading for England in exchange for materials needed in the South. A permanent exhibition at the museum, Rogues and Runners: Bermuda and the American Civil War, illustrates the role that Bermuda played in the conflict.
Visitors can also watch a video presentation that gives an overview of the history of Bermuda and purchase souvenirs at the Trustworthy gift shop.
The Bermuda National Trust Museum is situated on York Street in the centre of St George. It’s easy to reach by bus and ferry. Buses to St George can be caught from the Central Terminal in Hamilton. Routes 1, 3, 10, and 11 go to St George. In the summer a seasonal ferry service (orange route) runs between Hamilton, Royal Naval Dockyard, and St George.
Entrance to the museum costs $5 for adults ($2 for those aged 6 – 18, free for 5 and under). The Bermuda National Trust offers a combination ticket for $10 that allows entrance to the Bermuda National Trust Museum, plus the Tucker House Museum and the Verdmont Museum.
In the summer the museum is open Monday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. In the winter its open Wednesday and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Other attractions to visit in St George include the Bermuda Perfumery, the Deliverance, the Old Rectory, State House, St Peter’s Church, the Tucker House Museum, the World Heritage Centre, and the Unfinished Church. All are within easy walking distance of the Bermuda National Trust Museum.
For more information about things to do in St George pop into the St George’s Visitor Information Centre on King’s Square.
I taught at the NAS Chaffee HIgh School for eight years, ending in 1984. While there I was so very enthralled by Bermuda history, researching and reading about Bermuda in its first three centuries. I was also a very active scuba diver. While diving in Convict Bay, St. George’s, I found a partly-damaged bottle that dated to about 1680. It was lovingly restored by noted bottle expert Bill Gillies, and I donated it to the Confederate Museum. I well remember the museum and those who volunteered there. Since I lived in St. George, it was special to me. I hope my old bottle is still on display there, and I think the name should revert to Confederate Museum.
This is a lovely little museum. It is basically a small house with exhibits about Bermuda and its role in various wars. The curator is a volunteer and was very friendly and knowledgeable. I’m not sure children would find it interesting but as a history buff I loved it.
This is a quaint little museum about Bermuda and the American Civil War. We found it quite by accident while wandering around St George. Entrance was only $5.
I am not a member of the National Trust and don’t speak for them but I just wanted to put in my two cents worth. I don’t think the National Trust was being disrespectful at all to the memory of those who fought in the American Civil War. I think to be fair that the title “Rogues and Runners” is more a jibe at us as islanders and those who were not directly involved in the war in gun running etc. Many of the Captains of the runners were English naval officers for example on extended leave who made huge sums of money from this enterprise – together with those of “us” islanders who were in it just for the money were the real “rogues” in all of this.
I urge you to return to the original name, or if for some unknown reason that impossible, call it the Blockade Runners Museum.
I look forward to the original name of the Museum being restored so that I can visit it and Bermuda. The current pejorative name is entirely inappropriate to the brave men who fought for their country, some of whom are my ancestors.
I cannot add to the articulate comments already submitted, except to say that when a relative just mentioned to me of his visit in 1991 to the Confederate Museum, I was looking forward to seeing it for myself. I honor my Confederate ancestors and will not visit a place where they are vilified by calling them "rogues". It is my hope that you will restore the museum’s name and leave revisionist history to others. In the meantime, I will alert the many others who feel as I do and would be profoundly saddened were they to visit your new Rogues and Rebels presentation. July 2011
I fully agree. I am currently a member of the Confederate Stamp Alliance who collect Confederate stamps and don’t get involved with politics. But the liberal panzies of my club are changing the name to the Civil War philatelic society. This is revisionist history perpetuated mostly by “holier than Thou” liberals who want to corrupt American culture by equating Confederate soldiers, who are American, to Nazis. This nonsense has to stop and the real truth told, not some revisionist history that makes liberals feel good.
I am against any manoeuvre to change historical facts by focusing them according to certain new political correctness mandates. Bermuda can feel pride of having been operational base of the heroic blockade-runners which brought much needed medicines and other products to the invaded South during the American War between the States. Why have you changed the Museum´s original name? Confederate Museum! Why the Confederate flag is gone? A historical flag of that place! An the exhibition? Rogues? I think The Bermuda National Trust should change its strange politics, they deny history and their own past. Thank you.
Dear Sir/Madam, I endorse Raphael Waldburg’s comments wholeheartedly. I am reminded of the old expression, “There are two sides to every story.” As a along time broadcaster, journalist, writer, researcher and author, I think I can speak with authority when I say there are in fact many sides to every story, as many as the participants involved in it. As a fair minded democratic country you cannot sanitise history, although it has been done in China, Russia and sadly Japan. To remove all but one side of history, even in the name of a museum or memorial park, is anathema to me as it should be to any free minded soul, be they American, or in my case a New Zealander living in Australia.
As Americans, you have a duty bound honour to remember and dedicate the deeds of all those who shaped your nation. The American War Between the States was not a Civil War, the First War of Independence was, yet there is no attempt to erase the memory of those brave colonial soldiers who won freedom for each state to determine its own future, free of England.
Hide history and you will abide by it, distort history and it will distort you. Forget it and you’ll relive it!
As a Southern American I too am disgusted by those who portray my ancestors as the "Nazis", the "Huns", the "Barbarians". The South did not invade the North and destroy, plunder, rape and murder 60,000 women, children and old men. The South did not start the war the north did! Lincoln was what we call a socialist today but they called themselves Radicals or Statist back in 1860-77.
The war was fought for greed, lust and political power by the north.
Veo Vindice
"Rogues and Runners"! Are you crazy??
My direct ancestors fought for the Confederacy, against the Northern invasion of the Confederate States of America.
Secondly, there was NO civil war. The Confederate States of America had no interest whatsoever in taking over the government of the USA. This would have been necessary in a REAL civil war. Civil war is what the North called it because they could not bear the guilt from the devastation they had caused to the South. They had to try to justify themselves in causing the deaths of over 600,000 Americans, including many women and children, and billions of dollars in property losses.
I recommend that you return to the running of the Confederate museum, and leave the recollection of history to those who’ve lived it!!
The yankees were the rogues. They were the ones who committed atrocities against Southerners, both military and civilian. (German and Japanese war criminals paid with their lives for doing less than some Northern soldiers did.)
The Confederate States of America was formed for the selfsame purpose as the original United States of America (1776): To guarantee the right of the governed to a government of their choosing rather than a government crammed down their throats.
Restore the Confederate Flag and the original name of the museum.
I agree…the name should not be detrimental to the heritage of the brave Confederates that fought for our freedom from oppression from our own government. The definition of a rogue is: a dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel. Confederates are/were neither!
As a Southern American, I’m offended by the name "Rogues and Rebels". Perhaps "Blockade Runner Museum" is more appropriate.
You have insulted my family. They were not "Rogues and Runners." They were Americans who fought for their states which wanted independence from the United States. Put the Confederate flag back up and call it The Confederate Museum once again.