March13thMon Take an Inspiring Tour of National Heroes Park

National Heroes Park is located in Kingston, Jamaica and is the burial site for many of the cultural leaders, Prime Ministers and National Heroes.

In 1973, when the park was founded it was known as the National Heroes Park. Previously, it was a horse racing track known as Kingston Race Course. In 1905, the track was converted to a public park and renamed George VI Memorial Park in honour of King George VI of the United Kingdom. When Jamaica gained Independence in 1972, the park's name was again changed to its current name.

On August 2, 1838, grand festivities marking the end of apprenticeship and the beginning of full freedom were held here and the park is home to the Jamaica War Memorial, a prominent feature of the park honouring the Jamaicans killed in combat during World War I and World War II.

There are also several monuments present at the park:

• Marcus Garvey monument consists of a tomb at the centre of a raised platform in the shape of a black star.
• The Monument for Donald Sangster consists of an opposed pair of curved members, turning inward and wider at the top than at the novel base.
• Norman Manley's monument contains 12 pillars, arranged in two concentric circles, with the inner pillars taller than the outer ones. Sir Alexander Bustamante's monument is an arch, narrow at the top and widening toward the base, which stands above Bustamante's tomb, finished with marble from the region.
• Nanny's monument reproduces the sound of the abeng.
• Samuel Sharpe's monument is shaped like a Greek cross, to honour his Baptist faith, and its corners are left open as a representation of freedom.
• The Monument for Michael Manley's resembles a graph of exponential growth when viewed from the side.
• A bust of General Antonio Maceo was added as a donation from the people of Cuba, in recognition of Jamaica having offered him asylum.
• A monument also serves as a burial site for 140 elderly women killed in a fire at the Myers Ward of the Eventide Home for the Aged.

Get Here: In Kingston, head down old Hope Road to where it meets with Oxford Road. Turn left at the lights on to Tom Redcam Drive. Go to the very end turn right and then immediately left at the intersection onto Marescaux Rd. Head straight down and you will be on Heroes Circle. The Park forms its centre.