A business is taking a novel approach to encouraging tourism to the Island – by focusing on Victorian heritage.

Inspired by author Mark Twain's connections to the Island and artists Winslow Homer and Georgia O'Keeffe, Bermuda Supply is this week sponsoring a visit by the Victorian Society in America (VSA).

In the first trip since 1980, the society is touring gems such as the Royal Naval Dockyard as well as older historical homes and buildings. John Cooper, owner of Bermuda Supply, said: "The Society is always looking for interesting places to visit and goes on study tours across the US, such as to New York and other places of historical interest.

"We thought it was time for them to visit Bermuda once more, and the Bermuda National Trust was only too pleased to organise cultural tours of historic homes and places like the Globe Museum.

"In the US often the oldest buildings are Victorian, and people interested in the Victorian era tend to be interested in history in general, so there is much of interest here in Bermuda.

"There is also interest in Victorian people such as Mark Twain, who lived in Bermuda for a while, and Georgia O'Keeffe and Winslow Homer."

Mr. Cooper, a former executive director and current member of the VSA, said: "We thought we could help bring people to Bermuda, and at the same time do our bit as a local company to do a little for the community."

His wife Dorothy, who is on the VSA Board of Directors, organised the visit and the group's stay at Grotto Bay.

Mrs. Cooper said: "I jumped at the chance to arrange a fall study tour of the Island.

"This tour has been in the planning stages for over a year, and I am thrilled the time has finally arrived so we can introduce the beauty of this country to 27 of our VSA members, many of whom have never been to Bermuda."

The tour was also organised by Tim Rogers, Bermuda National Trust Cultural Tour Coordinator. Among the highlights are a walking tour of St. George's, and visits to Verdmont Museum, Camden, Bermuda Cathedral, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, Fort Scaur and Heydon Chapel.

The Victorian Society In America was founded in 1966 as a sister organisation to the Victorian Society in the UK, which focuses on the preservation of buildings and Victoriana.

The non-profit society aims to foster public appreciation of the artistry of the Victorian era in the US, such as architecture, fine and decorative art, design, planning and technology.

It also promotes education and maintains archives, records and other reference works.