George Town
The post office on Cardinal Avenue is a busy meeting place where locals exchange news; the hundreds of boxes on the outside of the building reflect the fact that there is no home or office mail delivery in Grand Cayman. Just 2 miles (3.2 km) from the airport, George Town is the gateway to Seven Mile Beach, which stretches north to West Bay. The Royal Watler Cruise Terminal opened to passengers in 2006.
Distinctive Caymanian architecture, with its ornate hand-carved trim and zinc roofs, adds a gingerbread character that can be seen in Pantonville, where three original houses have been restored.
George Town's architectural landmarks include the Elmslie Memorial United Church, built by Captain Rayal Bodden, a skilled shipbuilder whose signature timber roof framing is a structural highlight; the Peace Memorial, which once served as a town hall; the Clock Tower, built in honor of King George V; and the George Town Public Library, which has elaborate ceilings and houses an assortment of English novels.
A plaque on the corner of Fort Street and North Church Street commemorates the area where Fort George once stood. Just a small portion of the wall remains. The coral-rock fort, which guarded the harbor's entrance, was constructed in the late 1700s to defend the island against the Spanish.
When the legislature is not in session, the sergeant-at-arms is frequently available to provide tours through the Legislative Assembly building on Fort Street. Visitors are permitted to observe the legislature in session from the upstairs gallery; appropriate dress is required.
Visitor Information
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism Government Administration Building 133 Elgin Ave. George Town, CAYMAN ISLANDS KY1-1102. Phone:(345)949-0623Tourist information is available at all cruise ship terminals and at Owen Roberts International Airport.
Self-guiding tours
A pamphlet describing a self-guiding historic walking tour of central George Town is available at The National Trust office at Dart Park in South Sound and at the gift shop in the Cayman Islands National Museum.