Caribbean Landmarks: Historic Events and Sites

“Caribbean Landmarks: Historic Events and Sites” by Dr. Lennox Honychurch is an essential resource that brings the region’s most pivotal historical moments and culturally significant sites to life. Crafted by the renowned Dominican historian Dr. Lennox Honychurch, the book offers a sweeping narrative that traces colonial encounters, resistance movements, and community development across the Caribbean. It is celebrated not only for its academic depth but also for making complex history accessible to students, researchers, and general readers.

Uncovering the Legacy of the Past

Honychurch’s work captures centuries of transformation in the Caribbean, linking island histories to broader imperial, Indigenous, and African narratives. The book explores sites such as Fort Shirley, Old Market Square, and Bois Cotlette Plantation, illuminating their roles in episodes like slave rebellions, European wars, and Indigenous resistance. These landmarks are not just relics of the past — they are active reminders of cultural identity, resilience, and change.

Through vivid storytelling, Honychurch situates local struggles within the context of regional upheavals, such as the Maroon wars, the abolition of slavery, and the emergence of Caribbean nationalism. He makes direct connections to themes found in In the Forests of Freedom: The Fighting Maroons of Dominica.

Historic Sites and Cultural Memory

Many of the locations explored in the book are woven into modern heritage tourism and education. The Cabrits National Park and Prince Rupert Bay, Morne Bruce, Macoucherie Slave House, and Old Slave Route are each examined as spaces where history and present-day identity intersect. These sites are integral to understanding Dominica’s Natural Heritage and the wider cultural narrative of the Caribbean.

From Kalinago Territory to Roseau Old Market and from Forts to Forests, Honychurch emphasizes how place, memory, and cultural expression are inseparable. The book also highlights landmarks featured in Resistance, Refuge, Revival: The Indigenous Kalinagos of Dominica and Dominica’s Architecture & Historic Buildings.

Educational and Policy Influence

Caribbean Landmarks is widely used in Caribbean secondary and tertiary institutions. Its impact extends to shaping the content of history syllabi and informing national policies on cultural preservation. Organizations such as the Ministry of Culture, Youth, Sports and Community Development and the Society for Heritage Architectural Preservation and Enhancement (SHAPE) have drawn from its research to support the conservation of built and natural heritage.

A Timeless Contribution to Caribbean Identity

Dr. Honychurch’s work reinforces that understanding geography, politics, and community must include an appreciation of place. By drawing attention to tangible sites and anchoring them in their social and historical context, he ensures that Caribbean identity remains rooted in real, accessible spaces. Whether for a student tracing the Caribbean’s colonial legacy or a traveler exploring cultural tourism, this book remains a landmark in its own right.