Royal Naval Dockyard

Royal Naval Dockyard is located at the furthest end of Bermuda. After Britain's loss of the American colonies in the Revolutionary War, Bermuda took on increasing importance as Britain's toe-hold in the Atlantic Ocean. Bermuda was then known as the "Gilbraltor of the West." To establish its might, Britain used convict and slave labor to begin building the Royal Naval Dockyard in 1809. Ships stopped at Dockyard for refitting, victualling, and repairs before heading out on military, trade, or other missions. Dockyard remained a major outpost until it was closed in 1951. Restaurants, shops, an art gallery, glass works, sheep, a snorkeling park, captive dolphins (a sad spectacle...), and museums now occupy a small part of the once sprawling 11 acre installation.