Layer by Layer: A Mexico City Culinary Adventure, A Lockpicking Practicum With Schuyler Towne, Birthplace of the Pizza Margherita Plaque, In Nairobi, Young Diners Clamor for Traditional Kenyan Cuisine, California Is Named for a Griffin-Riding Black Warrior Queen, The Unsettled Legacy of the Bloodiest Election in American History, Inside Rome’s Secure Vault for Stolen Art, How Acupuncture Became a Radical Remedy in the Bronx, In Naples, Praying With Skulls Is an Ancient Tradition, Inside a Domed Pyramid With Astounding Acoustics and a History of Miracles, See the Mysterious Horned Helmet of Henry VIII, Searching for Home and Connection Through Typewritten Poetry, The Female Shark Spotter Protecting Réunion Island’s Surfers, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Coast_Castle, http://www.blackpast.org/gah/cape-coast-castle, http://theculturetrip.com/africa/ghana/articles/ghana-s-slave-castles-the-shocking-story-of-the-ghanaian-cape-coast/, http://www.ultimatehistoryproject.com/cape-castle.html, http://www.slaverysite.com/cape%20coast.htm, https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-cape-coast-castle. Cape Coast Castle, as rebuilt by the British in the 18th century. In one of the male dungeons, archeologists excavated the floor and found that the … *Entrance fees were reviewed in February 2013, GMMB We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders. It stands only a few miles from another slave castle built by the Portuguese at Elmina in the late fifteenth century. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Cape Coast Castle, Cape Coast (1653) ‘Cabo Corso,’ meaning ‘short cape’, is the name the Portuguese settled on for the local settlement within which its trade lodge was built in 1555. This monument is a stark reminder of the horrors of the Zanzibar slave trade. The British renamed it Cape Coast Castle and managed to maintain possession, though there were a few close calls. Featuring up-to-date information on top attractions, accommodation, travel tips and more. Established in 1970, the museum was given a face-lift in 1994 by the GMMB, with funds from the UNDP, USAID, the Smithsonian Institution and Counterpart funding from the Government of Ghana, along with support from other NGOs. Expedia, Inc. is not responsible for content on external Web sites. The ruins of this medieval castle on a foggy hill tell the story of a once-mighty empire. Open to the public, it is currently a historical museum with a Ghanaian arts and crafts gift shop, and it is the regional headquarters of Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. Atlas Obscura and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our website to personalise ads, support social media features, and analyse our traffic. Central and Western Regions After 1807, trade centred on precious metals, ivory, corn and pepper. The site’s first establishment was built by the Swedish Africa Company, whose officers had established good relations with local chiefs. Tel +233-3321 32529. You start in the dungeons, where the slaves were held.
The British Public Works Department later restored the premises in 1920s, and retained ownership right up until Ghana’s independence in 1957, at which point the castle came under the purview of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. Thousands of enslaved Africans from regions near and far, sometimes hundreds of miles away, were taken to these castles to be sold to slave ships. Offer subject to change without notice. In 1757, for example, an attack by the French badly damaged the fort, leading to a complete reconstruction. See.
A visit to Cape Coast Castle includes a very good guided tour, with much of the history explained. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Dutch occupation commenced in 1660. When President Obama visited Ghana’s Cape Coast Castle in July, 2009, he remarked that “it reminds us of the capacity of human beings to commit great evil.”.