Repairing the National Museum’s largest water-going vesselRestoration of this late 1800s nineteen-foot dory – the National Museum’s largest water-going vessel – is currently underway by traditional artisan Darwin Ebanks to maintain the historic integrity of the aged vessel, as Glee has seen previous repairs in 2003, and again in 2007 due to environmental challenges. Glee is an important National Cultural Treasure known for her swiftness, reliability, and long history of service to Grand Cayman and more specifically, to the people of West Bay.
Promoting our National Museum on Cayman CrosstalkMuseum Director, Dr. Peggy Leshikar-Denton, PR & Media/Design Specialist, Mr. Brian Watler Jr., and Visitor Services & Retail Officer, Ms. Rebecca Moore joined Chanda Glidden on Cayman Crosstalk Radio Show to promote our National Museum, International Museum Day, the Miss Annie Huldah Bodden: A Woman of Many Hats exhibition, and items from our unique Museum Gift Shop. Rewatch the show
National Museum Team Building at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic ParkNational Museum staff took the afternoon off on Friday, 14 May for a team outing/lunch at Over the Edge Cafe in North Side and toured the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.
Can You Speak Caymanian?! New Social Media Series
In October, we launched a new series in social media where we asked the public to submit videos of themselves using their best Caymanian accent. Check out the submissions below.
The Cayman Islands National Museum participated in the 44th annual International Museum Day Celebration on 18 May 2021. The objective of the International Council of Museums was to raise awareness about Museums and the important role they play in cultural exchange enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace among peoples. This year’s International Museum Day theme was the Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine, and the Cayman Islands National Museum took part with the unveiling of the Miss Annie Huldah Bodden exhibition and a day filled with other activities. The National Museum welcomed over 150 guests to the museum – from students of the Clifton Hunter High School, International College of the Cayman Islands and homeschoolers to older persons and other members of the community.
The Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage Meet & Greet at the National Gallery Museum Board Members & Staff attended a reception hosted by the Ministry of YSCH at the National Gallery to meet staff of the various departments under the Ministry’s umbrella.
Looky Ya! Mango Season at the MuseumThe Cayman Islands National Museum celebrated its 5th annual Looky Ya! Mango Season at the Museum on Saturday, 3 July from 10am to 2pm. The event took place at the National Museum on the Waterfront in George Town and welcomed over 350 residents to the event. On Goring Avenue, 22 artisans and culinary vendors with products ranging from thatch to pepper sauce, mango juices, local food, cakes and art lined the street in celebration of Mango Season.
Immerse Summer Camp 2021 (July & August)The Cayman Islands National Museum hosted its 5th annual Immerse Summer Camp for two weeks (19-23 July and 2-6 August) this Summer for 26 campers ages 10 to 14. With a mission to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to experience our Island’s unique heritage, the National Museum hosts its Immerse Summer Camp each year on themes relating to Cayman’s maritime, cultural and natural heritage. This year’s theme focused on Cayman Nature — campers hiked the Mastic Trail and visited various attractions around the Island.
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Shows
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Show with hosts Sterling Dwayne Ebanks and Wray Banker | Topic: “Logwood” Click here to rewatch
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Show with hosts Sterling Dwayne Ebanks and Wray Banker | Topic: “Doucet” Click here to rewatch
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Show with hosts Sterling Dwayne Ebanks and Wray Banker | Topic: “Miskittas” (‘Mosquitoes) Part 1 Click here to rewatch
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Show with hosts Sterling Dwayne Ebanks and Wray Banker | Topic: “Miskittas” (‘Mosquitoes) Part 2 Click here to rewatch
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Show with hosts Sterling Dwayne Ebanks and Wray Banker | Topic: “Columbus’ Fourth Voyage” Click here to rewatch
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Show with hosts Sterling Dwayne Ebanks and Wray Banker | Topic: “Conch”Part 1 Click here to rewatch
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Show with hosts Sterling Dwayne Ebanks and Wray Banker | Topic: “Conch”Part 2Click here to rewatch
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Show with hosts Sterling Dwayne Ebanks and Wray Banker | Topic: “Bush Medicine”Click here to rewatch
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Show with hosts Sterling Dwayne Ebanks and Wray Banker | Topic: “Cayman Thrush”Click here to rewatch
See Wha Ah Sayin’?! Radio Show with hosts Sterling Dwayne Ebanks and Wray Banker | Topic: “Majestic”Click here to rewatch
Congrats, Brian!Our very own PR & Media/Design Specialist, Brian Watler Jr., graduated from Liberty University with a Master of Science Degree in Marketing: Digital Marketing & Advertising. Congrats, Brian! We at the National Museum are proud of your accomplishments.
Congratulations to the Edna M. Moyle Primary School Quadrille dancers who won Gold at the 39th Annual National Children’s Festival of the Arts! The National Museum sponsored these students by allowing our very own, Brian Watler Jr. to teach these students every Wednesday afternoon in preparation for the competition. Click here to watch the performance
National Museum & DoT partner on Wreck of the Ten Sail park Interpretive SignageThe National Museum team worked hand-in-hand with the Department of Tourism team to design and develop interpretive signage for the Wreck of the Ten Sail park in East End.
The Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage supports our Olympic athletes in Tokyo, JapanThe National Museum, part of the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage, was proud to extend its support of our five athletes at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
A Permanent home for the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF)The National Museum team is working alongside the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism Team to design an exhibition space for the ISDHF at our National Attraction site, Pedro St. James. The National Museum was the first physical home for the ISDHF with two exhibitions featuring International Inductees, Local Inductees and Local Honourees. The Museum team is excited to be working with CIDOT on this project.
Cayman’s 200-year-old Old Courts Building protected this Hurricane SeasonThe Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Museum team carried out their annual hurricane preparedness drill for the 2021 Hurricane Season by shuttering and protecting Cayman’s oldest standing public building. The National Museum thanks PWD for their assistance in this effort each year.We are happy to report that the Old Courts building received no damage from Topical Storms Grace & Ida.
We celebrated our 31st anniversary with flair, fun and full immersion in the past, during its annual Looky Ya! event on Saturday, 20 November 2021. This year’s Looky Ya! ‘Old Time Days Come Back Again: How We Used to Live,’ was an all-day extravaganza of indoor and outdoor events and recalled the highlights of Cayman’s yesteryear. Staged along Seafarers Way (previously Harbour Drive), Goring Avenue and in the museum itself, the event evoked the sights, sounds and smells of how Caymanians lived and celebrated in years gone by.
School Visits & Tours
Thank you for visiting our National Museum!Year 6 students of Cayman Prep and High School visited the National Museum on Friday, 29 January, to learn more about the Cayman Islands’ rich Heritage and Culture!
International College of the Cayman Islands (‘ICCI’) Students taking time out of their busy schedules to visit Cayman’s Cornerstone Cultural Institution. We look forward to welcoming you all again soon!
Year 8 Humanities students of the John Gray High School posing on the steps of the historic Old Courts Building. Thank you for visiting our National Museum!
It was a pleasuring welcoming our new Minister, the Honourable Bernie Bush and Chief Officer Teresa Echenique to the National Museum today. Director, Dr. Peggy Leshikar-Denton formally welcomed them, introduced present Museum Board Members & Staff, as well as provided them with a tour of the Old Courts Building.
Thank you, Pink Ladies for visiting Cayman’s cornerstone cultural institution. We have no doubt that our Exhibition Coordinator, Mr. Wray Banker, provided you loads of interesting information on our Islands’ history. We trust that you had an enjoyable experience and we look forward to welcoming you again soon.
What’s Happening in 2022!
Miss Annie Huldah Bodden AnimatronicIn the first of a more extensive project, for the past year, behind the scenes, the Museum’s efforts to enhance its permanent Cultural History Exhibition and increase its judicial display’s educational reach and entertainment value, will soon be augmented through the addition of a Miss Annie Huldah Bodden Animatronic figure, generously sponsored by the Water Authority Cayman.The lifelike character will celebrate one of Cayman’s pioneer female leader and ‘awaken’ the justice system static display.
Speaker Series partnership with the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI)The National Museum is joining forces with our local community college, UCCI, to host monthly lectures on our Islands Heritage and Culture. Stay tuned for more details, including speakers and topics next month.
Thank You to our 2021 Members!
Become a Member of the Cayman Islands National Museum and help us keep our Islands’ rich heritage and culture alive in 2022. In 2021, we welcomed five returning Corporate Members: CUC, Hurley’s, Water Authority, G.T. Automotive & Imports and Cayman National Bank, as well as Individual, Senior, Family, Contributor and Donor level Members. If you would like to become a member of or renew your membership with Cayman’s Cornerstone Cultural Institution for 2022, visit www.museum.ky/membership
National Museum & DoT partner on Wreck of the Ten Sail park Interpretive SignageThe National Museum team worked hand-in-hand with the Department of Tourism team to design and develop interpretive signage for the Wreck of the Ten Sail park in East End.
The Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage supports our Olympic athletes in Tokyo, JapanThe National Museum, part of the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage, was proud to extend its support of our five athletes at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
A Permanent home for the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF)The National Museum team is working alongside the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism Team to design an exhibition space for the ISDHF at our National Attraction site, Pedro St. James. The National Museum was the first physical home for the ISDHF with two exhibitions featuring International Inductees, Local Inductees and Local Honourees. The Museum team is excited to be working with CIDOT on this project.
Cayman’s 200-year-old Old Courts Building protected this Hurricane SeasonThe Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Museum team carried out their annual hurricane preparedness drill for the 2021 Hurricane Season by shuttering and protecting Cayman’s oldest standing public building. The National Museum thanks PWD for their assistance in this effort each year.We are happy to report that the Old Courts building received no damage from Topical Storms Grace & Ida.
We celebrated our 31st anniversary with flair, fun and full immersion in the past, during its annual Looky Ya! event on Saturday, 20 November 2021. This year’s Looky Ya! ‘Old Time Days Come Back Again: How We Used to Live,’ was an all-day extravaganza of indoor and outdoor events and recalled the highlights of Cayman’s yesteryear. Staged along Seafarers Way (previously Harbour Drive), Goring Avenue and in the museum itself, the event evoked the sights, sounds and smells of how Caymanians lived and celebrated in years gone by.
Thank you for visiting our National Museum!Year 6 students of Cayman Prep and High School visited the National Museum on Friday, 29 January, to learn more about the Cayman Islands’ rich Heritage and Culture!
International College of the Cayman Islands (‘ICCI’) Students taking time out of their busy schedules to visit Cayman’s Cornerstone Cultural Institution. We look forward to welcoming you all again soon!
Year 8 Humanities students of the John Gray High School posing on the steps of the historic Old Courts Building. Thank you for visiting our National Museum!
It was a pleasuring welcoming our new Minister, the Honourable Bernie Bush and Chief Officer Teresa Echenique to the National Museum today. Director, Dr. Peggy Leshikar-Denton formally welcomed them, introduced present Museum Board Members & Staff, as well as provided them with a tour of the Old Courts Building. 
Thank you, Pink Ladies for visiting Cayman’s cornerstone cultural institution. We have no doubt that our Exhibition Coordinator, Mr. Wray Banker, provided you loads of interesting information on our Islands’ history. We trust that you had an enjoyable experience and we look forward to welcoming you again soon.
