The National Museum of Bermuda (NMB) is opening its doors again to all Bermuda residents for free during the month of February, generously sponsored by RenaissanceRe and Butterfield. 2025 marks the twelfth year of this community programme. Included in the initiative is their popular Community Day which will be held on Sunday, February 23.
NMB Executive Director Elena Strong shared: “Thanks to the support of RenaissanceRe and Butterfield we can continue to open our doors for free to all Bermuda residents during the month of February. At NMB, we aim to make learning Bermuda history part of every educational journey on Island. Eliminating the barrier of admission allows for increased access for residents to engage with and explore Bermuda’s complex and diverse past. Also, non-profit and private partnerships like this are essential as we carry out our work as a vital community education resource. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Dockyard this month!”.
A spokesperson for RenaissanceRe said, “Museums are essential educational resources for our community. By understanding our history, we can put the present into context and better prepare ourselves for the future. At RenaissanceRe, we are pleased to support the educational initiatives of the National Museum of Bermuda and hope the community can benefit from Free for February.”
Jody Feldman, managing director of Butterfield, added: “We are proud to continue our support for NMB and all they do to create meaningful education opportunities for Bermudians of all ages. Free for February provides an inclusive and accessible opportunity for us all to learn more about Bermuda’s history and culture. We encourage everyone to visit the Museum, get involved and make the most of everything NMB offers year-round.”
NMB’s permanent exhibits cover a range of topics that explore Bermuda’s cultural links with the West Indies and Azores, trans-Atlantic slavery and slavery in Bermuda, Bermuda’s defence heritage, shipwrecks and early Bermuda settlement, the building of Dockyard and much more. NMB’s 16-acre fort also contains jaw-dropping views, massive cannons, local watercraft, the stunning Hall of History mural by Graham Foster and a children’s playground and playhouse. Dolphin Quest Bermuda is also located within the Keep Fort.
The Museum’s newest temporary art exhibit STONE: From Bermuda to Charleston is a solo exhibit by Bermudian architect and artist John Gardner. The exhibit explores the legacy of Bermuda limestone and how it has shaped two distinct architectural worlds across the Atlantic: Bermuda’s iconic, white-roofed homes and Charleston, South Carolina’s historic structures built during the 17th and 18th centuries. Through a collection of triptychs of landscapes and Bermuda limestone, Gardner explores the cultural and architectural links between these two regions, proving new insights into Bermuda and stone’s far-reaching impact. His exhibit also serves to engage the visitor though archival photographs. historical panels, and video interviews.
Throughout the month of February, visitors to the Museum can pick up a family scavenger hunt at the NMB Ticket Office to dive deeper into the Museum’s collection and Bermuda’s history. They can also enter a weekly raffle to win a free family membership.
Later this month NMB will be hosting a free Community Day on Sunday, February 23 from 10am – 3pm. There will be food vendors, door prizes, interactive art and craft activities, games, a family yoga class, artist talks, dolphin demos, Native American dancing, Gombeys and more.
To take advantage of Free for February, Bermuda residents should bring proof of residency such as a driver’s license or utility bill.
NMB is open every day 10am–5pm (last admission 4pm). Visit www.nmb.bm/visit for more information. NMB is a non-government, not-for-profit Bermuda Registered Charity No. 136.
