Port Royal Echoes: Celebrating the History of
a Lost City
Watch a short video presentation of the
ceremony::
Chinese Ambassador Chen Jinghua and Wife read about Port Royal Today
Commemorating history was the order of the day at the opening of the Port Royal
Jamaica exhibition at the Institute of Jamaica’s Museums of History and Ethnography
on June 26th 2008.
The exhibit, which was a collaboration between the Institute of Jamaica and the
Historical Museum of South Florida, is on its second leg as it was already opened
in Miami on February 15th of last year.
New Chairman of the Museums of History and Ethnography Dr. Rebecca Tortello is sandwiched by Senior Advisor to the Minister of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Jonathan Greenland and Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition Curator and Director of the Museums of
History and ethnography Wayne Modest stressed the need for public support of exhibits
put on by the institution and also called attention to the fact that the exhibit
showed a different side of Port Royal in that, it was not only about pirates but
also about other aspects of the city that have been downplayed over the years.
Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica Jesus Silva stands with Chief Justice of Jamaica Zaila McCalla while admiring a piece from the exhibit
Featured in the exhibition were many unique pieces such as a pewter table set, Chinese
porcelain pieces and comb and jewellery cases made from tortoise shells all dating
back to the late 1600s. 90% of this exhibition was taken mostly from the institute’s
collection with particular pieces coming from the National Library and the Museum
of Natural History.
The Chinese and Spanish ambassadors, Chen Jinghua and Jesus Silva were among the
many delegates present at the opening ceremony put on at the institute. Joel Gordon,
Board member at the Historical Museum of Sothern Florida, spoke on behalf of the
establishment and expressed his joy at the collaborative venture saying that it
“is a start for better things to come.”
Also present at the ceremony was Senior Advisor to the Minister of Information,
Youth, Culture and Sports, Jonathan Greenland who was representing the minister
in is new capacity. In his address he spoke fondly of the city of Port Royal and
commented on the need for ‘proper conservation of tangible heritage’ in Jamaica.
Dr. Greenland was amongst those that stressed a need for public support of the institute’s
endeavours.
The exhibition scheduled to run until is truly a journey back in time and depicts
the allure of a once profound city. “Port Royal lives and breathes its magnificent
past and it is a place where history meets you at every corner.”
Board Member of the Historical Museum of South Florida Joel Gordon speaks at the opening of the Port Royal Jamaica Exhibition at the Museums of History and Ethnography, Institute of Jamaica
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A table set made of Pewter dated back to 1692 was on display at the Port Royal Jamaica Exhibit
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Chief Justice of Jamaica Zaila McCalla and CEO of the Kingston Restoration Company Desmond Blades share a smile as they greet each other while Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Chen Jinghua and wife look on
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