Jamaica - Cultural Destinations

By Smithsonian.com
Smithsonian.com, November 06, 2007

Plantations
A number of working plantations still welcome visitors in Jamaica, including the Sun Valley Plantation in Oracabessa where guests learn about the history of the plantation from the days of slavery through the present. Rhodes Hall Plantation in Negril grows a variety of fruits and vegetables in addition to raising fish, and the area is also home to a crocodile reserve, a resort and various activity options. The plantation has been in continuous operation since the 1700s when its primary products were sugar cane and rum.

The Devon House
The Devon House in Kingston is the former home of George Stiebel, one of the first black millionaires. Stiebel, who made the bulk of his money in mining, built the house in 1881 and in 1990 it was declared a national monument. The 11-acre property now serves as a museum, but is just as famous for its ice cream as its accurate depiction of a Jamaican Great House in the 1860s and 1870s.

Bob Marley Museum
No tour of Jamaica's cultural destinations would be complete without a stop at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, which is located in Marley's former home and studio. The museum features artifacts, writings, photographs and memorabilia as well as a restaurant and gift shop. While in Kingston, visit the National Gallery, where the displays and works include artifacts from the Tainos, Jamaica's first inhabitants, as well as 20th century Jamaican art, international exhibitions, and hosted collections.

Rose Hall Great House
For those with a taste for the macabre, a visit to the Rose Hall Great House is in order. Listen as guides describe the behavior of Annie Palmer, who moved to Rose Hall with her husband in 1820 and is said to have killed not only her first husband, but the two that followed, as well as countless slaves. Palmer, who was called The White Witch, was murdered in the house in 1831, allegedly by a slave seeking revenge. The Rose Hall Plantation is now also home to an unexpected assortment of high-end offerings, including a beach club and golf courses.