English
Harbour, Antigua's graceful and evocative historic district, is focused on the fifteen
square miles of Nelson's Dockyard National Park. Developed as a base for the British Navy
in the great age of sail, the harbour served as the headquarters of the fleet of the
Leeward Islands during the turbulent years of the late 18th century. Although the dockyard
was greatly expanded at that time by Horatio Nelson, it
was gradually abandoned in the nineteenth century and was closed in 1889. Today Nelson's
Dockyard has been completely restored, and it is now the only Georgian dockyard in the
world.
Almost all of the park's other sites of interest overlook the harbour. The closest of
these is Clarence House, a residence built for the future King William IV (1765-1837) when
he served under Nelson as captain of the H.M.S. Pegasus. Further above the harbour, at Shirley Heights, are the partially-restored fortifications of the
harbour's colonial observation post; the view from Shirley Heights extends out over the
harbour and far across the Caribbean to Montserrat and Guadaloupe. On Sundays the vista is
enhanced by barbeque and live music at the bar there (Steel Band music from 3-6 pm &
reggae from 6-9). Shirley Heights can be reached via Lookout Trail, a nature walk that
rises from the harbour through a forest of trees--descending the trail is not advisable
after dark or barbecue revelry.
Along Lookout Trail and near Shirley Heights is Dow's Hill Interpretation Center, at
which visitors can watch an impressive multimedia presentation of Antigua's history, from
its initial settlement to independence. Observation decks at Dow's Hill provide another
fine view of the harbour, as do the ruined fortifications of Fort Berkeley, located on the
far side of the bay and reached by a walk around its perimeter. All of these points, as
well as the park's convenient beaches, become especially popular spectator positions
during Sailing Week.
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