On his fourth trip to the new world, columbus was en route to hispaniola when his ship was thrust westward toward two very small and low islands, full of tortoises, as was all the sea all about, insomuch that they looked like little rocks, for which reason these islands were called las tortugas. The cayman islands has a rich history and a vibrant culture that is constantly evolving. A history of the cayman islands hardcover january 1, 1970 by neville williams author 5. Feb 15, 2010 as one of the keepers of cayman s history, the cayman islands national archive is filled with books, newspapers, magazines, video recordings, diaries, photos, and a host of other documents that. Find highquality cayman islands stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images.
A ship hits a reef off grand cayman, closely followed by its convoy of nine vessels 1832 legislative assembly set up 1863 caymans become a jamaican dependency, administered by an appointed. Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to. This name in itself was a precursor to the origin of the word cayman as it literally means alligators. History of cayman islands nothing is known of the original inhabitants, if there were any on cayman islands. When two is few and four is much, three is always just right. This pair would become the sister islands of cayman.
History of cayman islands lonely planet travel information. Nov 30, 2003 this is a very thorough yet easily readable history of the cayman islands. Notes on the history of the cayman islands 1967 edition. This is a very thorough yet easily readable history of the cayman islands. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Christopher columbus first sighted cayman brac and little cayman on 10 may 1503.
The islands remained a dependency of jamaica until our first constitution was written in 1959 and jamaica gained independence in 1962. Christopher columbus who sighted the cayman islands named them las tortugas after the many sea turtles he saw swimming there. What is the weather, climate and geography like in cayman islands. History, politics, business and financial management, commercial directories, education, society and customs. The cayman islands were first logged as sighted by christopher columbus on 10 may 1503 during his fourth and final voyage to the new world. Message boards localities caribbean cayman islands. The two smaller cayman islands little cayman and cayman brac were discovered by columbus in 1503, who named them las tortugas spanish for turtles after the vast numbers of turtles populating the islands. The story of the rise and fall of the cayman islands.
The cayman islands family history research page lists data collections relevant to cayman islands. History for the first century after christopher columbus happened upon the caymans in 1503, the islands remained uninhabited by people which may explain why multitudes of sea turtles were happy to call the place home, giving the islands their original spanish name, las tortugas. Being rather isolated, the islands developed a bit differently than mainland cities, thus getting the name the land that time forgot. The cayman islands are a british dependent territory consisting of three main islands with a total area of approximately 100 square miles and located about 500 miles west of jamaica. February 19 george town, cayman islands director of the national museum, dr. Cayman islands national museum george town, cayman islands. A ship hits a reef off grand cayman, closely followed by its convoy of nine vessels. In paradise by john paul carinci cayman cross by jack scott cayman gold. Christopher columbus sighted the cayman islands on may 10, 1503 and named them las tortugas after the numerous sea turtles seen swimming in the surrounding waters. Cayman islands history historical cayman island essays. The 264squarekilometre 102squaremile territory comprises the three islands of grand cayman, cayman brac and little cayman, which are located to the south of cuba and northeast of honduras, between jamaica and mexicos yucatan peninsula.
The results of this outlined in chapter 1 are widely distributed in unpublished reports, university theses, various scientific publications and books, many of these sources being difficult to find and some now unobtainable. Grand cayman island, famously described as a sunny place for shady people, owes its extraordinary rise and equally spectacular fall to three people. The cayman islands has a history that is rooted in trading and agriculture. The islands are the outcroppings of a submarine mountain range that extends northeastward from belize to cuba. The cayman islands are situated in the caribbean, around 440km 270 miles northwest of jamaica, 390km 240 miles south of cuba and 640km 400 miles south of miami. This book chronicles the developments of the islands from early settlement to present day, covering many interesting topics. Recommended fictionnonfiction books about the caymans. The islands were discovered by christopher columbus on his fourth voyage to the new world in 1503 and became a spot where exporers, traders, and merchants could stop off to stock up. In 1503, christopher columbus was making his fourth and final voyage to the new world when winds blew his ship offcourse. Historians believe that the cayman islands was first frequented by amerindians, the caribbeans first peoples who were superb mariners that traversed the. I decided my main character would return to cayman for my latest novel.
At that time, the cayman islands decided to remain a british crown colony. The firm became a bestseller, and was soon made into a blockbuster film starring tom cruise. After this initial sighting, we then jump forward to 1523 when the three islands make their first appearance on a map although by now it was referred to as lagartos. The islands were not permanently settled until the 1730s. In 1773, the first survey or map of cayman was drawn by the royal navy. The existence of the islands was first recorded in 1503 when a gust of wind landed columbus in the path of the islands. Search from 60 top cayman islands pictures and royaltyfree images from istock. What else do you know about the history of the cayman island. The cayman islands are a british overseas territory located in the caribbean that have been under various governments since their discovery by europeans. Made up of three separate islands grand cayman, cayman brac, and little cayman it offers up land, water, and wildlife adventures unlike anywhere else in the world. This tiny coralencrusted british territory has long claimed to be the worlds fifthlargest financial center, routinely ranked with hong. Cayman society was a lawless society during the early settlement years. In the course of the last century, a considerable amount of scientific work has been carried out in the cayman islands.
Other attractions include cayman turtle farm and the mastic trail, a forested hiking trail to the islands unspoiled center. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. He named the islands las tortugas the turtles and claimed them for spain. The history of the cayman islands begins on the 10th of may 1503 when christopher columbus discovered the islands albeit via chance.
Reading north side sues post made me realize that i would love to read more about the caymans a great book or two of fiction, as well as some nonfiction, possibly even a history of the islands. The cayman islands remained as a frontier society until well into the twentieth century. Researched and written by the noted caribbean historian michael craton and the cayman islands new history committee, it explores in detail the social, economic and political history of all three islands. Stroll around george town on grand cayman to check out the historic sites.
Much important research has been done during the last five years, specifically through the dedicated efforts of the staff of the cayman islands national. The islands were discovered by christopher columbus on his fourth voyage to the new world in 1503 and became a spot where exporers, traders, and merchants could stop off to stock up on supplies, water, and do some business as well. The year 1734 marked the rough beginning period of permanent settlement in grand cayman. Find highquality stock photos that you wont find anywhere else. Columbus had found the two smaller sister islands cayman brac and little. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. John moen is a cartographer who along with his wife are the orignal founders of. The pirates came from time to time to obtain turtle, wood and water and to careen their vessels, but being so close to a heavily guarded jamaica meant it was not too comfortable for pirates, so modern caymanians have no authentic pirate legacies, either in their. Today the cayman islands are now considered a british overseas territory. Before leaving for grand cayman, i was searching online for some historic sites to visit on the island, and came across this historic home.
Such is the case with the cayman islands, where a trio of hideaways combine to create the ultimate escape. It was then that columbus first happened upon two islands that he would name las tortugas for the many turtles residing there. The voyage on which the existence of these islands first came to light was part of his fourth trip to the area that was now known as the new world although we do know that he was initially aiming for hispaniola, which is modern day haiti. There is an international airport located in grand cayman, and facilities for tourists are widely available. Cayman islands weather, climate and geography weather and climate best time to visit.
The history of cayman islands south bay beach club. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the cayman magic reef restoration. Only during the last decade, have serious attempts been made to document a comprehensive and authoritative history of these islands throughout the past 300 years. About cayman islands cayman islands national museum. The territory is a major world offshore financial centre. All of that abruptly ended in 1991, however, when john grisham wrote a novel, partly set in the cayman islands, about a suspicious law firm that laundered mafia money in grand cayman. Put yourself on the map in grand cayman, venture off the path in cayman brac, and then have the world to yourself in little cayman as these islands complement each other perfectly. Due to its small geographic size, large scale changes in cayman are felt almost immediately. Grand caymans most vibrant shopping and entertainment destination. Media in category history of the cayman islands the following 5 files are in this category, out of 5 total. The cayman islands were first logged as sighted by christopher columbus on 10 may 1503 during his.
Like a lot of the caribbean island they are not just ascetically pleasing to the eye, they come with an amazing history. They grew from being very isolated islands inhabited mostly by crocodiles and turtles to being one of the worlds premier tourist and financial centers. History of the cayman islands only during the last decade, have serious attempts been made to document a comprehensive and authoritative history of these islands throughout the past 300 years. Smith cayman summer by angela morrison at the foot of the southern cross by dick gentry better off dead. Smith published in 1996 so getting a bit long in the tooth, this book focuses on the culture of the islands rather than the touristy bits. The cayman islands form part of the western caribbean zone and are made up of three main islands, namely grand cayman, cayman brac and little cayman. Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups by occupation, place. In the caribbean sea, encircled by mexico, belize, cuba, and jamaica, are the cayman islands.
He and his wife, chris woolwinemoen, produced thousands of awardwinning maps that are used all over the world and content that aids students, teachers, travelers and parents with their geography and map questions. Start your search here to find ancestors originating from cayman islands and to research historical records pertaining to cayman islands. Island history official travel and tourism web site it. Cayman islands history over the last five hundred years the cayman islands have had a rich and diverse history. One of their most widely celebrated events on the island is pirates week, which is celebrated this year from november 1222. At around 197 sq km 76 sq miles grand cayman is the largest and most populous island in this british overseas territory. Exploring the cayman islands caribbean travel blog. The first settlers came from jamaica as the islands had been decreed a dependency of jamaica in the treaty of madrid. Around the world in 80 books books set in the caribbean.
Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics like red hair. Browse 6,478 cayman islands stock photos and images available, or search for grand cayman or aruba to find more great stock photos and pictures. While its likely that the cayman islands was first visited by the amerindians, the indigenous peoples of the caribbean, for many the written history begins on the 10th of may 1503 when christopher columbus son ferdinand noted in his journal, we were in sight of two small low islands filled with tortoises, as was the sea all about. Cayman islands history, language and culture history of cayman islands. This book is the first comprehensive history of the cayman islands. The dive sites of the cayman islands 2nd edition by lawson wood the best dive guide to the cayman islands, with info on dive and snorkeling sites. On his forth and final voyage to the new world, christopher columbus sighted cayman brac and little cayman on may 10, 1503. They were taken possession of by the english soon after the conquest of jamaica. As one of the keepers of caymans history, the cayman islands national archive is filled with books, newspapers, magazines, video recordings, diaries, photos, and a. The audio tour was well done and full of facts plus plenty of informative posters and photos around the house. The cayman islands are considered to be part of the geographic western caribbean zone as well as the greater antilles. Cayman islands national museum is at cayman islands national museum. Put yourself on the map in grand cayman, venture off the path in cayman brac, and then have the world to yourself in little cayman as these islands.
Peggy leshikardenton, was the speaker for our first speaker series lecture of the year on tuesday, 18 february 2020. Dec 20, 2011 1670 spain cedes the islands, along with jamaica, to the english under the terms of the treaty of madrid. Much important research has been done during the last five years, specifically through the dedicated efforts of the staff of the cayman islands national archive. The cayman islands are quite simply a beautiful part of the world. Cayman islands national museum george town, cayman. The history of piracy in the cayman islands was short and less than romantic. But perhaps what its best at is nourishing your body, mind, and soul through. Cayman islands history in 1503 christopher columbus sights the sister islands and names them las tortugas, then over the next 100 years the name caymanas or cayman becomes common. Mizu prides itself on its sustainability practices and unconventional roll recipes. Paradise held hostagemy first book, cayman cowboys, is already on this list. Cayman islands genealogy, vital records myheritage. The islands outstanding spots include stingray city, the keith tibbetts shipwreck off cayman brac, and bloody bay marine park off little cayman. Notes on the history of the cayman islands by george s. Due to this, the cayman islands have often been given the term total colonial frontier.