The Bermuda National Trust’s St George’s museums were “poignant” places to visit as Bermuda celebrated Heritage Month, according to Ernest Peets, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport.

Dr Peets visited Tucker House and the Globe Hotel Museum earlier this month. The Tucker House kitchen was once a barber shop run by Joseph Rainey, who was born into slavery and went on to become the first Black person to serve in the US House of Representatives.

The Globe Hotel Museum contains the Rogues and Runners exhibition, which focuses on Bermuda’s role in the American Civil War.

Dr Peets said: “The historic Tucker House, set in the heart of the St George’s, offers an intriguing window back in time through the stories of the people who worked and lived here. This is another historic property that is owned by the Bermuda National Trust and they continue to demonstrate their passion and commitment to preserving all aspects of our heritage.

“As we celebrated Heritage Month, it was a such a poignant occasion to visit Tucker House, which is an important component of Bermuda’s legacy.”

Tucker House was built around 1752 and has changed very little in structure since then. In addition to housing Rainey’s barber shop, it was once the home of Henry Tucker, president of the Governor’s Council, and features an extensive collection of antiques including fine porcelain, portraits and Bermuda-cedar furniture. The basement houses a fascinating exhibition of artefacts found during an archaeological dig in the grounds of the house.

The Globe Hotel Museum is located on York Street and was built in 1699 by Governor Samuel Day. During its more than 300 years of existence, it has been patronised by Mark Twain.

Dr Peets also noted that the National Trust received a $6,000 Heritage Grant from the Department of Culture in 2021 to support its Cultural Heritage Education Programme. The grant also provided assistance with making trust databases digitally accessible.