1503 - Christopher Columbus noticed when he first
arrived that the islands were surrounded by turtles, thus he named
them “Las Tortugas.”
1530 - The name “Caymanas” was used,
derived from the Caribe word for crocodile because crocodiles now
inhabited the island. The pronunciation over the years has changed
to our current name “Cayman.”
1670 - England reigned sovereign over the Cayman
Islands and Jamaica, which were formerly under Spanish rule.
1700 - A few families started to call the islands
their permanent home. Some names you will recognize today.
1773 - The Royal Navy surveyed the first map of
the islands. The population was about 400 residents, half slaves and
half free.
1790 - Fort George was constructed to defend our
shores from attack.
1794 - Many ships ran aground at East End. The
tale of this event is known as “The Wreck of The Ten Sail.”
1830 - The first missionaries arrived and began
construction on a church in George Town.
1831 - Elections were held and the first legislation
was passed. The population was about 2,000.
1835 - The Emancipation Act of 1833 declared all
slaves to be freed and therefore they were released in accordance
with such law.
1920 - Schools in all districts were mandatory
by law.
1937 - The beginning of tourism as the first cruise
ship, The Atlantis, visits the islands.
1939 - To 1945 The Caymanians formed a “Home
Guard” during WWII.
1943 - The USA set up a Navy Coast Guard patrol
base.
1950 - Hotel construction started on Seven Mile
Beach.
1953 - The first airstrip opened in Grand Cayman.
1959 - The first written constitution granted women
the vote.
1962 - The Cayman Islands choose to remain a British
Crown colony.
1966 - Major banking legislation introduced.
1972 - A new constitution is adopted for Grand
Cayman.
