The National Museum of Bermuda and Naval Dockyards Society have partnered to host a special conference marking the 75th anniversary of the closure of the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda. This commemorative event will take place on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the National Museum of Bermuda, Royal Naval Dockyard.
For over 150 years, the Royal Naval Dockyard stood as a powerful symbol of British naval strength in the North Atlantic. Today, it is one of Bermuda’s most visited landmarks, featuring the island’s largest cruise ship pier, alongside a vibrant array of restaurants, shops, and attractions. This historic venue will serve as the backdrop for a day of reflection, scholarship, and discussion on the Dockyard’s past, its role in global conflicts, and its transformation into a modern cultural hub.
The entrance to the Royal Naval Dockyard c. 1900
The Naval Dockyards Society’s 30th Annual Conference The 75th Anniversary Commemoration of the Closure of the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda will bring together speakers from the UK, US, and Canada. Over three engaging sessions, seven experts will present on the following topics:
- Early Bermuda History and North Atlantic Conflict
- The North Atlantic – Second World War and Personal Stories
- Dockyard Closure and Bermuda Dockyard Today
This event will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to delve into Bermuda’s maritime heritage and gain insights into the strategic importance of the Royal Naval Dockyard throughout history.
Conference Details:
- Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
- Location: National Museum of Bermuda, Royal Naval Dockyard
- Booking Deadline: April 30, 2025
- Registration: https://nmb.bm/naval-dockyards-society-30th-annual-conference/
The National Museum of Bermuda encourages Dockyard enthusiasts to register for the Conference to learn more about Bermuda’s naval history and legacy of the Royal Naval Dockyard from leading experts. To ensure wider participation, there are virtual tickets available to watch presenters via Zoom.
In conjunction with the conference, the National Museum of Bermuda in partnership with Roger Bendall of the Naval Dockyards Society has launched the Dockyard Memories crowdsourcing project, inviting the public to contribute personal stories and photographs related to the Royal Naval Dockyard. This initiative seeks to preserve the voices and experiences of those connected to the Dockyard’s history and evolution. Submissions will help build a richer understanding of the Dockyard’s past and its impact on Bermuda’s community. NMB Curator Dr Deborah Atwood shares:
“The Royal Naval Dockyard is more than a historic landmark—it’s a place shaped by the people who lived and worked within it. Through the Dockyard Memories project, we hope to capture and preserve these personal connections, from apprentices and workers to families and friends. Every story and photograph shared helps us better understand the human side of Dockyard’s legacy, ensuring that its impact on Bermuda’s community is remembered for generations to come.”
To participate, visit https://nmb.bm/dockyard-memories/ and share your memories to be featured in the Museum’s archives and potential future exhibitions.
Ship Shop Dockyard apprentices at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda, May 1950. This skilled trades training program prepared young Bermudians for careers in shipbuilding and maintenance, ensuring the Dockyard remained a hub of maritime expertise
Dockyard Ship Fitting Staff, Bermuda, 1950. This team of skilled workers was responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining essential ship components, including piping, engines, and structural fittings. Their expertise kept vessels in top condition at the Royal Naval Dockyard.
About the Naval Dockyards Society: Founded in 1996 and officially constituted in 1997 at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, the Naval Dockyards Society is dedicated to researching and preserving naval dockyards and their associated infrastructure worldwide. The Society organises annual themed conferences, publishes research, and campaigns for the protection of historic dockyard sites, including Sheerness, Deptford, Devonport, Gibraltar, and Bermuda. Its work covers various aspects of naval dockyards, including shipbuilding, ordnance, medical facilities, workforce history, and conservation efforts, encompassing both terrestrial and underwater heritage.
