Date of Award
5-2009
Document Type
Terminal Project
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Historic Preservation
Advisor
Jonathan H. Poston
Committee Member
Ashley Robbins-Wilson
Committee Member
Frances H. Ford
Committee Member
Robert D. Russell, Jr.
Abstract
In November of 2008, after years of negotiation, the Port Authority of Jamaica reached an agreement with Royal Caribbean to authorize the construction of a pier in the harbor of Falmouth, Jamaica. Respected for its collection of colonial architecture, Falmouth became slated as a “heritage destination” offering an alternative to the well-known Caribbean cruise experiences. However, the project is not a mere pilot program. The $224 million cost represented an incredible investment by the Jamaican government and Royal Caribbean has promised 400,000 visitors annually, a figure that would rank the town among the most frequented Caribbean cruise destinations.
After early economic success at the height of the sugar era in Jamaica, Falmouth has been mired in a depression. Its impressive collection of remaining historic architecture is no coincidence; it is the result of minimal investment throughout most of the past century. Now the town faces the challenge of nurturing a successful redevelopment without sacrificing the architecture that comprises much of its treasured heritage.
Recommended Citation
Pelz, Matthew, "Preserving Preeminence Amidst Revitilization: The Role of the Tharp House in the Restoration of Falmouth, Jamaica" (2009). Master of Science in Historic Preservation Terminal Projects. 8.
https://open.clemson.edu/historic_pres/8