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history · Jamestown

The Museum of St. Helena: Napoleon, Saints & Island Stories

Step inside the island's finest cultural repository and trace 500 years of extraordinary history — from Portuguese discovery to Napoleon Bonaparte's final exile — in intimate, expertly curated galleries right in the heart of Jamestown.

What to expect

Beautifully housed in a historic Jamestown building, the museum displays Napoleon's personal effects, East India Company artefacts, endemic natural history specimens and the remarkable story of the island's freed slave community. Curators are on hand and eager to share stories beyond the labels. The Napoleon collection alone — including items from Longwood House — is of international significance. A visit pairs perfectly with the short walk to Saint James' Anglican Church, one of the oldest Anglican churches in the Southern Hemisphere.

Book it with
The Museum of St. Helena
GBP 3 per adult (self-guided); private guided sessions available on request — approx. GBP 50 per group
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Good to know

The museum is a short stroll from the pier along Jamestown's main street. Opening hours typically align with ship days — confirm with the museum directly ahead of arrival. A private guide session should be arranged in advance by email.

Sail there

Luxury cruises that call at Jamestown — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.

Azamara · Azamara Onward
17 nights · calls at Jamestown
from $4,109
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Holland America · Volendam
35 nights · calls at Jamestown
from $8,869
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