‘Heritage Tourism & Politics of Public Memory’

The National Museum of Bermuda The National Museum of Bermuda [NMB] is continuing its free Bermuda and the Atlantic World lecture series with a virtual lecture this Thursday, 14 May at 5:30 PM AT via Zoom.

A spokesperson said, “Heritage Tourism and the Politics of Public Memory in Bermuda will be presented by Dr. Alexander Goodrich.

“As tourism expanded in the early twentieth century, Bermuda’s historic sites came under increasing pressure, prompting key organisations to decide what would be preserved and shared with the public. These choices shaped a curated version of the Island’s past—often highlighting colonial connections while overlooking stories of enslavement, inequality, and social struggle within a segregated society.

“In this lecture, Dr. Alexander Goodrich explores how these narratives have evolved over time, examining how history has been shaped, challenged, and reinterpreted to better reflect Bermuda’s diverse and complex past—and why that matters today.”

“History is not simply a timeline of events, it is a human story, complex and often contested,” Says NMB Curator, Dr. Deborah Atwood. “By looking beyond the past itself to the ways it has been interpreted and shared, we deepen our understanding of the present and open up space for dialogue and reflection about why our stories matter and what they say about us.”

A spokesperson added, “Admission is free, but registration is required. Sign up at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xmEzqPnGQx6vctcBhIa9VA#/registration to attend and explore this compelling chapter of Bermuda’s past.”

NMB Executive Director Elena Strong shared: “How we tell our history matters. This lecture invites us to examine the stories we’ve inherited, the voices that have been left out, and the importance of continuing to broaden our understanding of Bermuda’s past.”

A spokesperson added, “Previous lectures in the series include:

• “Higglers, Hucksters and Pedlars: Informal Trade at Dockyard presented by Dr. Neil Kennedy

• “The Early Atlantic Age [1250-1609]: Why and how did we get here? and Building a Maritime Community & Maritime State: Early Settlement & Economic Growth [1609-1800], both presented by Dr. Clarence Maxwell

• “Pushing the Boundaries of Freedom presented by Dr. Kristy Warren

• “Reckoning with the Slave Ship Enterprise in Bermuda, 1835 presented by Dr. Neil Kennedy

• “Societal Changes in Post-Emancipation Bermuda and the ‘Friendly Society’ Effects by Dr. Michael Bradshaw

• “From Hamilton to Charleston: A History of Bermuda Stone in Charleston, South Carolina by Justin Schwebler

• “‘Faint and Weary by Working in the Burning Sun’: Britain’s Convicts in Bermuda [1824-1863] by Dr. Anna McKay.

• “Early Bermuda Indigo Resist Textiles: Unraveling Bermuda’s 17th-Century Textile Legacy, by Lori Lee Triplett

“You can watch all previous lectures at: www.nmb.bm/lecture or on the Museum’s YouTube channel.

“NMB’s Bermuda and the Atlantic World lecture series and education programs are supported by the Anchor Fund. To donate, please here: https://nmb.bm/donate/.”

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Category: All, Entertainment, History