Echoes of the Coast is an exhibition that brings together artefacts and relics from the era of British colonisation of the Corn Islands and the greater Mosquito Coast, spanning from the mid-1600s to 1894. Preserved by local families or recovered across the islands, each piece carries a story of survival and cultural transformation, reflecting the complex realities of an era marked by struggle, negotiation, and the forging of new identities amidst external domination. This exhibition invites reflection on a layered history, one not solely defined by colonisation, but by the voices that endured it, challenged it, and reshaped its legacy.
Small Cast Iron Pot
Period: 19th Century
Location: Culture House, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5010
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
This miniature cast iron pot, dating back to the colonial era, was likely used for preparing small portions of food, herbal remedies, or spices. Its presence on the Corn Islands reflects the simple, resourceful practices of daily life during that period.
Glass Oil Lamp Base
Period: 19th Century
Location: Culture House, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5011
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
Dating back to the late 1800s or early 1900s, this clear glass oil lamp base once illuminated homes on the Corn Islands. Its ribbed design and durable build reflect the everyday tools used during the colonial and early post-colonial eras, before electricity reached the islands.
Bronze Vessel
Period: 1700s-1800s
Location: Culture House, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5012
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
Likely brought to the Corn Islands through early colonial trade or maritime routes. Its sturdy design suggests it was used for storing or serving liquids and reflects the types of metalware introduced by explorers, traders, or privateers in the Caribbean.
Brass Monkey Figurine
Period: 19th to early 20th
Location: Culture House, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5013
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
A decorative brass figure of a monkey playing a flute, likely introduced through colonial trade. Its detailed design reflects the global influences that reached the Corn Islands via maritime exchange.
Clay Brick
Period: 1800s and early 1900s
Location: Culture House, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5014
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
Wood was the primary building material on the Corn Islands, but bricks like this were occasionally imported for special structures. Those buildings no longer exist, but their bricks are still found along the shore or underwater, serving as silent traces of the colonial past.
Cannon Ball Gauge
Period: 1700s and mid-1800s
Location: Culture House, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5015
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
This iron ring gauge was used to measure the size of cannonballs for loading into cannons. Likely linked to naval activity in the Caribbean, it hints at the military and maritime presence once seen around the Corn Islands during the colonial era.
Pewter Mug
Period: 1700s and early 1900s
Location: Culture House, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5016
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
This pewter mug was used by sailors, settlers, or workers during the colonial period. Durable and practical, it was brought by ship and used in everyday life on the Corn Islands, reflecting the island’s role in regional trade and maritime activity.
The Royal Readers Book No. III
Period: 1881
Location: Private Collection
Digital Number: TCISVM-5017
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
This book, along with others from The Royal School Series, was used to teach English on the Corn Islands. These materials were introduced after the founding of Ebenezer Baptist School in 1852, the islands’ first formal school, where English became the first language locals learned and the main language of instruction.
Pirate Cannons
Period: 1600s-800s
Location: Brig Bay Seafront, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5018
Photo by: The Corn Islands Virtual Museum
These iron cannons were recovered from beneath the shores of the Corn Islands, possibly remnants of Spanish or English vessels that once navigated the region. They now stand as silent witnesses to the colonial maritime presence that shaped the islands’ early history.
Old Anchor
Period: 1600s-1800s
Location: Ródrigo Campbell Park, South End
Digital Number: TCISVM-5019
Photo by: The Corn Islands Virtual Museum
This large iron anchor was recovered from the waters surrounding the Corn Islands. It likely belonged to a Spanish or English vessel. Anchors like this served merchant or military ships that once sailed the Caribbean, marking the islands' role in colonial navigation and trade routes.
Iron Cannon
Period: 17th–19th century
Location: Tranquilo Café, Little Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5020
Photo by: John Morgan
This iron cannon was recovered from beneath the shores of Little Corn Island, possibly remnants of Spanish or English ships that once navigated the area. It is evidence of the colonial maritime presence on the islands.
Wooden Mirror
Period: 19th century
Location: Culture House, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5021
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
This antique mirror, over 100 years old, once adorned a home on the Corn Islands. Its wooden frame and aged glass reflect the craftsmanship and domestic aesthetics of the time. It resembles many of the items imported from overseas, highlighting the cultural and material exchanges that took place during the colonial and postcolonial eras.
Sad Iron
Period: 17th century
Location: Culture House, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5022
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
Sad irons were first brought to the Corn Islands during the colonial period long before electricity arrived. Made of solid, heavy cast iron, they were heated on an open fire or stove and then used to smooth garments.
Hand Mirror
Period: 19th century
Location: Culture House, Great Corn Island
Digital Number: TCISVM-5023
Photo by: Cristian Figueroa
This ornate hand mirror with stylistic details strongly suggesting the Victorian period. Its floral metalwork and elegant form reflect the decorative tastes of the time and offer a glimpse into the personal grooming habits of island residents who once owned such refined objects, brought from overseas.
