Whether you’re a history buff or simply curious about the island’s heritage, you may be interested to hear that the National Trust for the Cayman Islands has launched a free app that provides maps and information about more than 30 protected natural areas, trails and historic sites across the Cayman Islands. It also offers a new, self-guided George Town walking audio tour, available for purchase.
The tour features rare historical images, traditional Caymanian music and narration from several well-known residents, including Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, Radio Cayman News Editor April Cummings and cultural leaders Michael McLaughlin and Nasaria Suckoo-Chollette.
“It took over a year to produce,” said Laura Butz, marketing manager at the National Trust.
“The tour is truly incredible, showing both our natural and built heritage, older historical buildings in the capital and locations that feature interesting trees, details about Cayman geology and information about the maritime and seafaring heritage of George Town.”
Cathy Childs, the National Trust programmes manager, helped gather and produce the content for the walking tour app, with much of the research taking place at the Cayman Islands National Archive.
“As you proceed along the walking tour journey, you will come across some of the most historical buildings, you will come across the first neem tree that was brought to Grand Cayman, you will find the locations where schooners were built and launched along the coastline and you will hear about some of the events that occurred in Cayman’s past,” Childs said.
The development of the app itself was done by William Verhoeven who lives in Cayman Brac and it was paid for through a Darwin Plus local grant.
Childs said the National Trust will continue to develop other audio tours.
“While some people like to go with a paid tour guide, others prefer to go exploring on their own, so these audio tours with visuals and images are great for people like that,” she said.
“We believe the tours will appeal to both visitors and local residents, especially those people who are interested in Cayman history and the natural and cultural heritage of these islands.”
The National Trust is already halfway through developing their next self-guided audio tour, which will cover the Mastic Trail.
“It will include details about the history and importance of this trail, especially for the people of North Side, and also details about the plants and the animals that can be found along it. After that is complete, we will start work on a driving tour for Cayman Brac,” Childs said.
The National Trust app is free to download and the audio walking tour of George Town costs $4.99. Once you have purchased the audio tour, you can use it as many times as you like.
To download the app, visit the National Trust website.