Sam Sharpe Square

Sam Sharpe Square, situated in the downtown area, is the traditional heart of Montego Bay. The area was originally called Charles Square, but was renamed in honor of the Jamaican anti-slavery campaigner Sam Sharpe. Today, the cobblestoned area remains a bustling thoroughfare. See the bronze monument commemorating Sharpe’s struggle, haggle for a souvenir and explore Montego Bay’s history in the grand Civic Centre.

The focal point of Sam Sharpe Square is the National Heroes Monument. This bronze statue depicts Sam Sharpe preaching to his followers, with a Bible in his hand. Sharpe, a local Baptist minister, led a peaceful protest that turned into the 1831 Christmas Day rebellion against the British, Jamaica’s largest slave rebellion. The revolt cost hundreds of lives but is considered a major factor in the eventual abolition of slavery in Jamaica and across the British Empire.

Read the plaques next to the monument to get Sharpe’s full story. Next to the monument you will find the Cage, a tiny stone-and-brick structure that once served as a holding cell for local drunks. Today, it’s a good spot to get your Montego Bay souvenirs.

Take a walk through the cobblestone streets that surround Sam Sharpe Square. The British colonialists built many of the colorful Georgian buildings here, including the Civic Centre that was built in 1803. The Civic Centre was originally Montego Bay’s courthouse and was the site of Sharpe’s trial. It was restored after a fire in the 1960s, and it is now the Museum of St. James. Stop here for a comprehensive history of the area, from the customs and beliefs of the Arawak people, to the era of white colonial rule and the eventual abolition of slavery.

Sam Sharpe Square is located in downtown Montego Bay. Spend an hour or two walking the streets, people-watching and stopping in at the Museum of St. James. Grab lunch at the restaurants and cafés on nearby Market or St. James streets.