Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The
Garden of Flowering Plants
is the most traditional botanical gar-
den area here, with two acres of floral gardens arranged by color. Pink,
purple, orange, silver, and a whole rainbow of tones blossom with color and
fragrance year-round. Overlooking the gardens and a small pond that fea-
tures six-foot Victoria water lilies, a teahouse has been constructed.
The gardens are open 9 am to 5:30 pm, daily. Admission is US $7.50 or
adults, US $5 for kids six-12, and children under six are free.
Pedro St. James National Historic Site
, Savannah,
345-947-3329,
www.pedrostjames.ky. To reach the site, take Red Bay Road (A2) east from
George Town to Savannah. Turn right on Pedro Castle Road; you'll see the
site on your right.
One of East End's top attractions is also its oldest. Pedro St. James Resto-
ration Site, an 18th-century great house, is called the “Birthplace of De-
mocracy in the Cayman Islands.” Called Pedro Castle by local residents,
the historic structure is situated in the community of Savannah, east of
George Town.
The oldest known stone structure in the Cayman Islands, Pedro St. James
was first built for William Eden, an early settler. In 1831, the house was
the site of an historic meeting when residents decided that the five dis-
tricts should have representation in the government. Four years later, a
proclamation declaring the emancipation of all slaves was read at Pedro
St. James and several other sites in the islands.
The restoration of the great house to its 1820s condition was a major un-
dertaking, a US $7.5 million project. The site is at the center of a 7.65-acre
landscaped park atop the 30-foot Great Pedro Bluff. For the past several
years, historic research into the site has been conducted. Today, the three-
story great house is home to a 49-seat theater as well as a café.
Your visit begins in the theater with a 25-minute multimedia show ex-
plaining the significance of Pedro St. James. Shows begin on the hour and
are must-sees; the high-tech presentation is a valuable lesson in Cay-
manian history. The special effects will hold children's attention (although
they might be a little scary for the very young).
After the multimedia show, you can take a self-guided look at the three-
story home. For all its historic significance, the home has a sad history as
well. At the foot of the exterior stairs, a young girl who lived in the home
was struck and killed by lightning; the resulting fire burned much of the
original structure. After the fire, the two families who resided at Pedro St.
James thought the house was unlucky and they built homes near the ru-
ins. These structures can still be seen along with an outdoor cookhouse.
You'll find some hiking here as well. The Ironshore Trail is a wide trail
that's popular with many visitors. It's lined with native plants, and pro-
vides a good view of the Great Pedro Bluff.
