Current Exhibitions
Natural History Gallery
Cultural History Gallery
Freedoms Imagined; Freedoms Won: Long Celia & Elizabeth Jane Trusty
Kiemanos: The Ira Thompson Collection
Natural History Gallery
Permanent Exhibition
Realistically reproducing Cayman’s flora and fauna, the Natural History Gallery provides a look at the diversity of species and environments in the Cayman Islands. The gallery moves from the islands’ geological formation, to its current underwater and land life via a mixture of panels, dioramas, taxidermy, and interactive features, offering visitors a variety of interpretive options.
Cultural History Gallery
Permanent Exhibition
The Cultural History Gallery offers exhibits on a variety of cultural themes including political and judicial systems, social movements, seafaring history, trade, and medicine. Video re-enactments capture historic events such as the “Wreck of the Ten Sail,” and the 1820 court hearing of enslaved person, Long Celia. Dynamic cultural vignettes examine three aspects of Caymanian life – church, home and industry, while dioramas and wall panels tell the story of Cayman’s historic turtling and fishing industry.
Kiemanos: The Ira Thompson Collection
Changing Exhibition
This exhibition invites visitors into the world of Ira Thompson, a taxi driver, birdwatcher, and beloved community figure whose remarkable collection became the foundation of the Cayman Islands National Museum. Beginning in the 1930s, Thompson’s passion for collecting grew into the Kiemanos Museum, a cherished local attraction that captured the story of a changing Caymanian society.
Bringing together artefacts from the Museum’s early collection alongside personal items on loan from the Thompson family, the exhibition offers an intimate portrait of the man behind the legacy, celebrating his dedication to preservation and his deep pride in Cayman and its community.
Freedoms Imagined; Freedoms Won: Long Celia & Elizabeth Jane Trusty
Changing Exhibition
Freedom from slavery in the Cayman Islands was not a single moment. It was a gradual process, shaped over time through lives lived, choices made, and futures imagined by the enslaved. Acts of resistance were certainly present. While they may have been less overt compared to the large-scale rebellions seen elsewhere in the Caribbean, resistance in Cayman took forms such as preserving cultural practices, slowing down work, and feigning illnesses. Some, like Hannibal (practicing Obeah), Primis, and Long Celia, faced harsh punishment for challenging authority.
Elizabeth Jane Trusty and Long Celia, both enslaved, lived on Grand Cayman in the early nineteenth century. Though we have no record they met, their lives unfolded in the same place and time, as ideas of freedom began to shift. News of the Haitian Revolution, the rising influence of the Abolitionist Movement, the Slave Trade Act, and Jamaica’s Christmas Rebellion likely reached the island and circulated among the enslaved.
In 1809, Elizabeth Jane Trusty secured her manumission and built a life in George Town as a free woman of colour, creating some stability and opportunities for her two adopted children. In 1820, Long Celia spoke openly of freedom, questioning why such news would be withheld, and imagining a life beyond the control of slavery. While she was brutally punished, her words show that freedom existed first in thought and belief.
When slavery ended in 1835, freedom did not guarantee equality or security. For the children of Elizabeth Jane Trusty (who died in 1835) and for Long Celia, however, it opened the possibility of shaping lives and futures on their own terms, even within a society still marked by inequality.
Theirs are stories of freedoms imagined and won; of lives shaped not only by the circumstances of their time, but by the ways these two women understood, pursued, and carried freedom forward.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the hours of operation at the National Museum?
The National Museum is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.
Is there available parking at the Museum?
There is limited street parking or paid parking at Bayshore Mall.
How much does it cost to enter the Museum?
Please see our Visiting page for more information.
How long does it take to go through the Museum?
It takes about 45 minutes- 1 hour to go through the Museum – this includes a 20 minute introductory video.
Can I walk to the Museum from the Cruise Port?
The National Museum is located within walking distance of the Port.
Are there guided tours?
Guided tours are available by appointment. Please see our Visiting page for more information.
Are audio headsets with different translations available?
We now offer a brand-new Audio Guide with multiple language options, including Caymanian Dialect, English, Spanish, Italian, German, French, Tagalog, Jamaican Patois and Mandarin!
Simply connect to the Museum’s Wi-Fi on your smartphone to access the guide and explore Cayman’s history at your own pace. No headset needed—just bring your device and enjoy!
Is the Museum accessible by wheelchair?
The National Museum is housed within a historic building with limited accessibility; however, our ground floor and bathrooms are accessible.