National Heroes Square, Bridgetown

National Heroes Square sits in the heart of Bridgetown, between Upper Broad Street and the Careenage. A good place to get your bearings is on the southern side of it, beside the Careenage. Stand with the water behind you and face north, toward the square's center.

Directly ahead, see the Cenotaph, the tall, pale stone war memorial. It commemorates Barbadians who lost their lives in the two World Wars and remains the focus of annual Remembrance ceremonies. Immediately near it, to the west, is a focal point of the square - the Monument to the Barbadian Family - celebrating the national identity, resilience, and the generations that shaped the country. Around it are 11 columns, each dedicated to one of Barbados’s National Heroes.

On the opposite side of the Cenotaph is the landscaped area with the decorative fountain. This is the Fountain Garden. The fountain - known as the Dolphin Fountain, recognizable by its three intertwined dolphins - commemorates the introduction of piped water to Bridgetown in 1861. The fountain itself opened in 1865.

Now, turn back south toward the Careenage. You’ll see the narrow stretch of water running through central Bridgetown. Slightly to your right, or west, you should easily spot the Chamberlain Bridge crossing it. Today it is a pedestrian bridge and provides a good viewpoint along the Careenage, once an important working harbor where vessels could be maintained and repaired.

Next, turn around so the Careenage is behind you again and look toward the eastern side of National Heroes Square. Here, across the street, stand the Parliament Buildings. They are easy to recognize by their Gothic Revival design, pointed windows, pale coral-limestone walls, and prominent clock tower. Completed in the 1870s, the complex remains one of Bridgetown’s most recognizable landmarks and is home to the Parliament of Barbados.

Government offices, including the Department of Inland Revenue, are also located around the square, reflecting this area’s long-standing role as the administrative center of Bridgetown.

Up until 1998, National Heroes Square was known as Trafalgar Square, when it was renamed in honor of Barbados’s National Heroes. National Heroes Day is celebrated each year on April 28.