It's where our driver told us to meet him after the tour for our transportation back to the ship. Otherwise, I'm not sure we would have seen it.
The park commemorates the day that slavery was abolished in the Danish West Indies. There's an annual Emancipation Day celebration and ringing of the Liberty Bell as a symbol of freedom. The sculpture in the middle of the park is the "Conch Shell Blower" or "Freedom" statue. The artist that sculpted it is Bright Bimpong. The man blowing into the conch shell is General Buddhoe who organized and led the uprising for freedom in 1848. What I didn't know is that this park was built on the land where slaves were once sold. It makes that sculpture even more special & significant.
The Liberty Bell that you see in this park is number #51 of 57 replicas ordered by the U.S. Treasury back in 1950 as a "Save for Your Independence" savings bond campaign. The bells were given to each state (Missouri has 2). There are 2 in DC, 1 in Puerto Rico (#53) and 1 in VI. That leaves us with 2 more. One was given to Japan in 1952. It's located in Tokyo's Hibiya Park. The Pacard Foundry in Annecy, France who casted these bells was also given a replica.
The bell in Emancipation Gardens is open for all to see and touch it. It's been said that it's there for anyone to ring it, but I don't know if that's still true. It's sitting on a tall base that has a plaque referencing the Jamestown settlers who had stayed in VI for 3 days before founding the Virginia settlement. It's a little confusing at first, but it has nothing to do with the bell.
We waited for a short time in the semi-shaded park with the chickens and pigeons. There are plenty of benches and even a large white gazebo. There are plenty of places for picture opportunities. It was a nice place to relax while waiting for our tour ride back to the pier. read more