A Decade Celebrating Centuries… Antigua Naval Dockyard Marks 10 Years of UNESCO World Heritage Status
The National Parks Authority (NPA) of Antigua and Barbuda is proud to commemorate a landmark occasion, the 10th anniversary of the inscription of the Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Inscribed on 16th July 2016 at the 40th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Istanbul, Turkey, this milestone marks a decade of international recognition of one of the Caribbean’s most significant cultural landscapes.
This anniversary arrives in the wake of several other historic milestones for the NPA: the 40th anniversary of the Authority’s establishment in December 2024, and the 300th anniversary of the Antigua Naval Dockyard itself in September 2025.
Together, these occasions celebrate the enduring legacy of a site whose story stretches back three centuries.
Since its establishment in 1725, the Antigua Naval Dockyard has stood as a remarkable testament to Georgian naval architecture adapted to a Caribbean environment.
For nearly two centuries, it served as a center of maritime power, engineering, and military strategy. Yet its story is not only one of empire and conflict, but also equally a story of the labour, ingenuity, and resilience of the free and enslaved Africans whose hands shaped the physical and cultural landscape that survives today.
Following the Royal Navy’s departure in 1899, the Dockyard entered a new era.
Conservation efforts championed by the Friends of English Harbour, coupled with the growth of the yachting industry in the 1960s, transformed the once-abandoned naval base into a thriving heritage destination.
In 1984, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda formally established Nelson’s Dockyard National Park and created the National Parks Authority to safeguard approximately 16 square miles of interconnected terrestrial and marine landscape stretching from Mamora Bay to Carlisle Bay.
Over the past four decades, the NPA has grown into a leading heritage management institution in the Caribbean. Its mandate extends well beyond the conservation of historic buildings to encompass archaeological and environmental research and conservation, sustainable tourism, education, and community engagement.
Landmark restoration projects including the rehabilitation of Clarence House and stabilisation works at the Blockhouse Military Complex, reflect the Authority’s commitment to preserving authenticity while ensuring that heritage assets remain active and accessible.
These projects, led by skilled local craftsmen, speak to a deeper investment in institutional capacity, community partnership, and the understanding that conservation is a catalyst for socio-economic development.
The UNESCO inscription affirmed the site’s Outstanding Universal Value as an exceptional example of an 18th and 19th century British naval establishment and as a living cultural landscape that reflects intertwined histories of naval innovation and the lives of those, both free and enslaved, who made the Dockyard possible.
In the decade since inscription, the NPA has continued to expand its stewardship role to meet all its challenges, including climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, archaeological documentation, sustainable development planning, and enhanced visitor experiences.
Community-centered initiatives, such as the 8th of March Project, have broadened the site’s interpretation by placing local voices, traditions, and lived experiences at the heart of its narrative, ensuring that heritage reflects not only historic structures, but also the people whose stories continue to shape them.
Parks Commissioner Ann Marie Martin captured this spirit eloquently: “Today, the National Park is far more than a monument to the past. It is a living heritage landscape where history, culture, nature, commerce, and community coexist.
\It remains an engine of sustainable tourism, a center for research and education, and a source of national pride and identity.”
At its anniversary ceremony on the 16th of July 2026, held under the theme “A Decade Celebrating Centuries,” the National Parks Authority honoured twelve community members whose dedication and service have significantly contributed to the site’s success.
\ Among those recognised were Franklyn Braithwaite MBE, GOH, OLY, Jean Weste, Paul Deeth, Elizabeth Jordan, Althea Joseph, Karl James MBE, Jennifer Byerley Bentley, Capewell William Greene II, Louise Edwards, Marinus Smith, Leslie Roberts and the Shirley Heights Lookout.
Honourable E.P. Chet Greene, Minister responsible for National Parks, reflected on the occasion with a call to continued commitment: “This cultural landscape is the people’s place, and beyond words, we are committed to ensuring its protection through sound policy and legislation, preserving it for future generations.
We remain dedicated to safeguarding our rich African heritage and ensuring that young people understand, embrace, and value the cultural legacy that surrounds them. The protection of spaces such as this demonstrates the importance of our heritage today and its continued significance for tomorrow.”
As Antigua and Barbuda commemorates 10 years of UNESCO World Heritage inscription, this milestone is as much a celebration of achievement as it is a renewed commitment to the future.
Heritage conservation is an ongoing responsibility, one that demands innovation, collaboration, and resilience in the face of evolving global challenges. The Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites belong to the people of Antigua and Barbuda, and through the inscription, to the world.
The National Parks Authority remains steadfast in its mission to protect, preserve, and promote this extraordinary legacy for generations to come.
For more information, contact the National Parks Authority at [email protected]
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