Saint Ann’s Bay

Saint Ann’s Bay, the capital of Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, is a historic settlement known for its rich heritage and notable figures like Marcus Garvey, Floyd Lloyd, and Burning Spear. Christopher Columbus landed there in 1494 and was later marooned in 1503, naming it Santa Gloria. It was home to Jamaica’s first Spanish settlement, Sevilla la Nueva, before being abandoned due to raids and sanitation issues. Under British rule, it developed into a key fishing port and trade hub. Though later overshadowed by Ocho Rios, it remains a center for traditional Jamaican culture with historic sites like the St. Ann Parish Church (1871), St. Ann’s Bay Courthouse (1860), and Jamaica’s first prison, originally a 1750 fort. The town features statues honoring Columbus and Garvey, as well as relics like the HMS Hinchinbrooke anchor. Cardiff Hall, a former plantation worked by 1,500 enslaved Africans, stands as a reminder of Jamaica’s colonial past.