Walking aimlessly through Roseau, the capital of Dominica, I was struck by how beautiful, striking and unique some of the old buildings were. The quaint hardwood and volcanic cut-stone buildings held stories wanting to be told. Stories spanning, in some cases, hundreds of years. These well constructed buildings have survived hurricanes including the devastating 2017 Hurricane Maria, storms and pests. Resilient, like the island's population, a lot of these buildings continue to be either private residences or commercial places.

A little over a month in Dominica, I reached out, through a personal local contact, to the Society for Heritage, Architectural, Preservation and Enhancement (S.H.A.PE) for a personal tour to learn about these buildings. The NGO was formed in 1992 to lobby for an official historic district and is now tirelessly working with the local community and the government to safeguard the nation's built heritage. A substantial number of traditional stone and wood building have been demolished in favor of taller concrete structures and some still standing are at risk of the same fate.

The tour with the former president was exactly what I was looking for. I learned so much history about all those buildings I walked by. The building housing the Dominica Museum used to be the administrative building for the slave trade which was abolished on August 1, 1834. The door I absolutely loved, was the entry way into an old prison. The list goes no.

For such a small town, the buildings have a lot to say! S.H.A.P.E will be happy to take you on an unforgettable and informative personal tour for a fee. Reach out the NGO and let them know Edna told you about them.

Here are some of my favorite buildings which I am sure you will see walking through Roseau.

#Dominica