St Kitts Is Getting Two Major New Museums

The historic Fort Thomas property in St Kitts, is entering a bold new chapter. The 8.7-acre site, long a silent witness to Saint Kitts’ past, will soon be home to a transformative $30 million development that blends culture, education, and tourism.

Prime Minister Terrance Drew led the official groundbreaking for The Symbol of Love Museum and Monuments, calling it a moment that ends “two decades of silence” at one of the nation’s most storied sites.

 “Twenty-six years ago, in 1999, the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis acquired this property. For too long, it stood idle, its rich history fading,” he said. “Many of us remember when Fort Thomas hosted music festivals, alive with energy and culture. Today, that silence ends.”

Under a new lease agreement with ABL Inc., a Caribbean developer known for innovative tourism projects, Fort Thomas will be redeveloped into a world-class cultural and heritage park. 

Anchoring the project will be two major institutions: the Caribbean Museum of History and the International Museum, designed to celebrate the region’s shared identity and place it within a broader global story.

“This project is about preservation and transformation,” Prime Minister Drew said. “Our Caribbean Museum will tell our story – one of resilience, creativity, and unity – while our International Museum will connect us to the wider world.”

The development will feature botanical gardens with water features, dining and retail spaces showcasing authentic Caribbean hospitality, and a jetty that enhances sea access for cruise visitors. Replicas of major world heritage monuments will honor figures who helped shape history through courage, justice, and peace.

The government emphasized that the project is a pure foreign direct investment, independent of the Citizenship by Investment Programme. Ownership will transfer only after the developer fulfills its commitments, with strict provisions for local workforce participation, environmental protection, and archaeological supervision to preserve the fort’s legacy.

Tourism Minister Marsha Henderson underscored the alignment with the country’s sustainable tourism strategy. “We have two limbs in sustainable tourism – preserving our natural sites and our heritage, and ensuring social inclusion,” she said. “Children will be able to come here, local vendors and residents will be part of what happens on these grounds, and so we welcome this development wholeheartedly.”

The initiative also dovetails with the national tourism brand, “Venture Deeper,” which invites visitors to explore the layered history and identity of Saint Kitts and Nevis. “This development will make Fort Thomas an epicentre of Caribbean and international history,” Drew said. “It will celebrate our past, honor global heritage, and position Saint Kitts as the Caribbean’s most authentic and innovative tourism destination.”