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Kingston Attractions |
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Kingston, besides being the capital of Jamaica, there are many interesting places in the city you would like to visit and see, especially for art lovers.
First destination you might want to stopover is Spanish Town. The National Gallery of Jamaica settles here. The gallery houses important masterpieces of famous national artists in Jamaica and art collection that are very significant to the history of the country. One of the art works that is very popular in the gallery is the bronze statue of the father of reggae, Bob Marley. It was made by Christopher Gonzalez. This work of Gonzalez was very controversial as the bronze statue was meant to be standing in the Celebrity Park, but the fans of Bob Marley protested because the statue for them is not very appealing.
“Barbara Bush of Jamaica,” Edna Manley, is a reputed local sculptor in Jamaica. She created several sculptures that are now displayed in Jamaican School of Art. Her well-known “Ghetto Mother” sculpture is in the main lobby of the school. Edna Manley was not just famous with her sculpture but also with her status as she was the wife of former Prime Minister Norman Manley and a mother to another prime minister, Michael Manley. She died in 1876 at the age of 86. Other attractions inside the Jamaican School of Art are the mahogany figurines and the art works of “Kapo,” Mallica Reynolds. Critics call his masterpieces as “the work of a genius.”
The Jamaican School of Art is open for exhibits from Tuesday to Thursday 10:00am to 4:30pm, Friday 10:00am to 4:00pm, and Saturday 10:00am to 3:00pm. Entrance fee at the school is $1.25 and a guide can be hired but at a high price of $800 for a tour.
A salient classical building at 26 Hope Rd is one of the major architectural attractions in Kingston, the Devon House. The Jamaican National Trust renovated the old building to its original splendor recently. Devon House was built by George Stiebel in 1881. Stiebel was one of the first black millionaires in the Caribbean through mining in Latin America. At the ground flour of Devon House, crafts shops, boutiques, restaurants, ice cream parlors that sell exotic Jamaican flavored ice cream, and a bakery and pastry shop selling authentic Jamaican puddings and desserts. Devon House is open every Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5:00pm. Admission to the main house is $6 and the shops and restaurants are free.
A 50-acre plot of enchanting gardens waits to be seen—a Jamaican Shangri-La, at the Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo, Hope Rd. It is the largest botanical garden in the West Indies. Cactus garden, orchid house, green hoses, ornamental pond, “forest garden,” and a zoo can be found here. The place is a nature’s paradise—flowers, plants, trees, and animals, everything makes this Jamaican Shangri-La divine and relaxing place to stroll. The gardens and the zoo are open daily. The gardens are free to visit and open from 6:00am to 6:00pm. The zoo charges $20 for adults and $10 for children 4 10 12 for admission. It opens from 10:30am to 5:00pm. Cafes are also within the area selling drinks and snacks. Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo was named after a British Army Commander who lived here in the mid-17th century, Richard Hope.
Adjacent to Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo is the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (tel. 876/927-1660). The university is the old Mona Sugar Estate that was built in 1948. The campus of University of the West Indies is renowned as the most beautifully situated campus as its modern buildings and halls are side by side with the old ruins of mills, storehouses, and aqueducts. The well-preserved and original sugar factory is now the chapel of the campus. The University of the West Indies is open for visitors every Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
The finest working library for West Indian studies in the world holds the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and balanced collection of materials on the region, including books, newspapers, photographs, maps, and prints. The library is no other than the National Library of Jamaica at the institute of Jamaica, 12 East St. It holds the key to the history, culture, and traditions of Jamaica and the Caribbean. The National Library is open every Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Except for Friday, the library closes early at 4:00pm.
Since Jamaica is known for reggae music, you probably would want to visit the most famous museum in Kingston, the Bob Marley Museum. The museum is the actual house of the late father of reggae, Bob Marley. Not until his death on May 11, 1981, in Miami hospital, his house was turned into a museum in memory of his musical works. The house is mostly decorated with Bob Marley’s memorabilia; his children often visit the museum. The museum is open from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 4:00pm. Entrance fee is charged $400 for adults, $300 for children 13 to 18, $200 for children 4 to 12.
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