Institute of Jamaica
Dating to 1879, this museum covers early Arawak residents to modern times. Collections span art, literature, and natural history, with exhibits from Jamaican furniture to Marcus Garvey.
3 Best Sights in Jamaica
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Touring Jamaica can be both thrilling and frustrating. Rugged (albeit beautiful) terrain and winding (often potholed) roads make for slow going. Always check conditions before you set off by car, but especially in the rainy season, June through October, when roads can be washed out. Two-lane primary roads that loop around and across the island are not particularly well marked. Numbered addresses are seldom used outside major townships, locals drive aggressively, and people and animals have a knack for appearing out of nowhere. That said, Jamaica's scenery shouldn't be missed. To be safe and avoid frustration, stick to guided tours and licensed taxis.
If you're staying in Kingston or Port Antonio, set aside at least one day for the capital and another for a guided excursion to the Blue Mountains. There's at least three days of activity along Mo'Bay's boundaries, but also consider a day trip to Negril or Ocho Rios. If you're based in Ocho Rios, be sure to visit Dunn's River Falls; you may also want to stop by Bob Marley's birthplace, Nine Mile, or Firefly, the restored home of Noël Coward. If Negril is your hub, take in the South Coast, including Y.S. Falls and the Black River.
Peter Tosh Museum
In the heart of New Kingston, this museum is dedicated to one of Jamaica's greatest reggae singers, Peter Tosh (born Winston McIntosh). Tosh, along with two other reggae legends—Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer—formed the Wailers in 1967. After the group split up, Tosh went on to have a successful solo career, spanning a decade, until he was killed during a robbery in 1987. Lots of Tosh's memorabilia, including his custom M16 guitar and unicycle, are on display.
Trench Town Culture Yard Museum
This restored tenement building where Bob Marley spent much of his youth is now a protected National Heritage Site. Marley wrote frequently about life in the "government yard," and the area is credited with being the birthplace of reggae. It's also where the Wailers band was formed—they recorded Catch a Fire here. The project was developed by the Trenchtown Development Association, a group dedicated to breathing new life into what had been one of Kingston's worst slums. There's a museum of Marley and Wailer memorabilia and a souvenir shop.
Tours are best arranged by calling in advance, but there is a tour guide on the property, in case you arrive without a reservation.
