The finest colonial structure in

Belize City Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital city, capital of the former British Honduras. According to the 2022 census, Belize City has a population of 63,999 people. It is at the mouth of the Haulover Creek, which is a ...

Government House Government House is the name of many of the official residences of governors-general, governors and lieutenant-governors in the Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories. The name is also used in some other countries. Government Houses in th ...

(now the House of Culture Museum) is said to have been built to plans by the British architect

Christopher Wren Sir Christopher Wren FRS (; – ) was an English architect, astronomer, mathematician and physicist who was one of the most highly acclaimed architects in the history of England. Known for his work in the English Baroque style, he was ac ...

with a combination of Caribbean vernacular and English urban architecture. Erected in 1814, it was first the residence of the governor of British Honduras and later the residence of the

governor general Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

, the monarch's representative in

Belize Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a maritime boundary with Honduras to the southeast. P ...

. After the rest of the government moved to

Belmopan Belmopan () is the capital city of Belize. Its population in 2010 was 16,451. Belmopan is the smallest capital city in the continental Americas (by population) and the third-largest settlement in Belize, behind Belize City and San Ignacio. Fou ...

in the wake of

Hurricane Hattie Hurricane Hattie was the strongest and deadliest tropical cyclone of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season, reaching peak intensity as a List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes, Category5 hurricane. The ninth Tropical cyclone, tropical storm, sevent ...

(1961), the house later became a venue for social functions and a guest house for visiting VIPs. Eventually, the house was converted into a historical museum. The museum features exhibits of colonial glassware, silverware, and furniture. It also houses a collection of archival records. Belize House in

became the

official residence An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless of whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority (either their own or that of th ...

of the governor general in 1984. Built in 1981, it was the former

British High Commission A British High Commission is a British diplomatic mission, equivalent to an embassy, found in countries that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Their general purpose is to provide diplomatic relationships as well as travel information, ...

References

Government House
Museum of Belize & Houses of Culture. Buildings and structures in Belize City Official residences in Belize Government Houses of the British Empire and Commonwealth Politics of British Honduras Monarchy of Belize {{Belize-struct-stub

See also

References