During my last visit to Green Turtle Cay, I had a long chat with Bahamian artist Alton Lowe about the Albert Lowe Museum — specifically, the structure in which it’s housed. Turns out that the museum building’s history is as fascinating as the artifacts displayed inside.
Built in 1825 by the Roberts family (who owned a department store on the property where Sid’s Grocery is now located), this two-story Loyalist home features traditional gingerbread-trimmed porches, dormer windows and one of the only cellars on the cay.
Photo by Tom Walters
As was common at the time, the house has a separate kitchen building (which remains fully functional), as well as a four-hole latrine. The latter was an indication of the family’s wealth, since it offered correctly sized holes for men, women and children.
During the 19th century, when wrecking was a mainstay of the local economy, goods salvaged from shipwrecks were stored in and sold from the house’s cellar (which now serves as the museum’s Wrecker’s Gallery.)
Later in the 19th century, future British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain lived here as a young man prior to purchasing his own home on the cay.
Photo: Albert Lowe Museum
And in the early 20th century, when merchant ships sailed from New Plymouth to New York packed with pineapples and returned laden with dry goods and other supplies, the stars and stripes flew over the house’s porch as it served as residence and office for U.S. Consul, E. Willis Bethel.
When the 1932 hurricane demolished New Plymouth’s library, this house – one of just a handful of structures in the settlement to survive the storm – served as a library until a new one could be built.
Sadly, by the mid-1970s, the Roberts house had fallen into disrepair. It was being rented out as office space when Alton purchased the home and set about its restoration.
He scoured the Bahamas for architectural elements – like porch spindles from a historic home in Nassau – that were true to the house’s vintage, as well as historically accurate reproduction pieces – such as gingerbread trim, hand-made by his brother, Leonard Lowe.
A year later, before Bahamian, American and British dignitaries and hundreds of onlookers, Alton opened the Albert Lowe Museum — the first museum in the Bahamas.
cuts the ribbon to open the Albert Lowe Museum.
Named in honour of Alton’s father, a well-known model ship maker, the museum’s mission was to preserve Bahamian and Abaconian history and serve as an educational tool for young Bahamians.
Photo: Albert Lowe Museum
Today, the museum showcases three centuries’ worth of paintings, sculptures, writings, models, photographs and other artifacts documenting the lives of the Lucayan Indians who first inhabited these islands, and the Loyalists and their slaves who settled here after fleeing post-revolutionary America.
It’s a diverse and fascinating collection, housed in a building that’s played a key role in New Plymouth history for nearly 200 years.
Photo by Tom Walters
Good presentation, Amanda! Thank you. Tom’s photos capture the tale. Joy Lowe Jossi
Thank you, Joy. Glad you liked it. Will pass along your kind words to Tom as well.
I have three photos sketched in pencil that your father did Albert Lowe they are Connolly’s Tavern call Natchez and I’m not sure what the other two are cuz I’m I’m not at home right now but I really like your response on this tell me what it’s worth
Hi, Karen. Thanks for your note. Would you mind using the CONTACT ME function above to send me an email with further info? Albert Lowe was not my father – he was the father of Alton Lowe, but I’d be happy to send a message along to Alton. I’m not sure the Albert Lowe to whom you refer was in fact Alton’s dad, but Alton would know for sure. Thanks.
Hi, Karen. Could you use the CONTACT ME function to send me more information? Albert Lowe is actually the father of Alton Lowe, but I’ll certainly pass the information on to Alton. (I’m not 100% sure it’s the same Albert Lowe, but Alton would know for sure.) Thanks.
i just love your gentle & informative history lessons! keep it up, Amanda
Thanks, Linda. I learn something new about GTC every day I’m there, and I love sharing it with all my fellow GTC lovers!
A beautifully informative piece on the museum, thank you Amanda.
Thanks, Carolyn. Glad you liked it. 🙂
hello little house by the ferry its dennis the vizsla dog hay dada sez if that wer a bed and brekfast insted of a myoozeum he wood like to stay their!!! mmmm brekfast!!! ok bye
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