Set directly on the waterfront, in a George Town neighborhood that's more densely packed with cruise ship passengers than any other area on the island, this museum is housed in a dignified clapboard building that's one of the island's oldest and one of few to survive the disastrous hurricane of 1932. The 557-sq.-m (5,995-sq.-ft.) interior is a repository for the lore, history, and memorabilia of the Cayman Islands. Many older islanders feel that the importance of local history is being ignored by the younger generations of Caymanians. Thus, you might find more passion and ferocious national pride associated with the exhibits inside this museum than you might have expected. Exhibits focus on the sociological, archaeological, and mercantile history of the Caymans, with a heavy emphasis on the hardships suffered by the Caymanians prior to the advent of tourism and the modern-day financial-services industries. The formal exhibits feature more than 2,000 items depicting the natural, social, and cultural history of the Caymans, including an assortment of Caymanian artifacts that were collected by islander Ira Thompson beginning in the 1930s. The museum also incorporates a gift shop, theater, and cafe. Call ahead to make sure it's open when you visit. The museum can be seen in about 45 minutes.
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