Island Historical Timeline. 750 - l500 AD - Evidence of Lucayan ceremonial and trading centre activities on Grand Turk and Middle Caicos. 1300's - Pottery shards and bead-making remnants in a Lucayan village discovered on Grand Turk in 1989. 1492 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanahani Beach,Grand Turk. He finds a settlement of Lucayan Indians. I512 - Ponce de Leon passes by the Turks Islands on his way to Bimini. 1563 - First English visitor, Captain John Hawkins, stops to pick up salt. 1641 - Nuestra Senora sunk north of Puerto Plata. An estimated 1000 shipwrecks surround the Turks Caicos Islands. 1668 - Salt making industry begins. 1670's - Bermuda freely enjoyed raking salt from the Islands. 1687 - Treasure of gemstones, gold and silver in excess of $600,000 is recovered from the Silver Shoals by Sir. 1706 - Turks Islands captured by the French and Spanish. 1710 - Turks Islands recaptured by Bermuda. 1718 - Anne Bonny and Mary Read capture Spanish treasure ship and settle on Parrot Cay. 1720's - Francoise l'Olonnois used French Cay as his pirate base. 1725 - Grand Turk is seasonally occupied by 1000 men raking salt, fishing for turtle and wreck diving. 1776 - Bermudan sloops ignore Royal Navy blockade and ship salt to Washington's army. 1777 - Inflation rampant in America, salt was selling for $40 per bushel. 1781 - First permanent settlement on Grand Turk. 1783 - French seize Grand Turk. Horatio Nelson tries unsuccessfully to capture Grand Turk. Islands are restored to Britain by the Treaty of Versailles. 1789 - Loyalist refugees begin to arrive in the Caicos Islands. 1792 - Grand Turk becomes Port of Entry and Customs arc set up here instead of in Nassau. 1799 - Britain decides in favour of Bahaman rule for the TCI. Bermudan residents resist Bahamian rule. 1812 - War in America led to suspension of trade and famine in the Islands. 1813 - Hurricane forced loyalists to other British Islands and Canada, a few took their slaves to Grand Turk. 1834 - All British Colony slaves are granted freedom. 1834 - 1840 - Harriet family home, the White House, built on Salt Cay. 1840 - The home of the Islands Salt Overseer built on Grand Turk, later to become the Governors guest house, and finally the Turks Head Hotel. 1842 - Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. serves Caribbean mail and uses Grand Turk as a coaling station. 1845 - First newspaper published, Turks Island Gazette Commercial Reporter. 1846 - 1883 - Turks Island Whaling Co. is formed and harpoons first whale off East Ambergis Cay. 1848 - 1873 - Queen Victoria grants a royal charter. The TCI become an independent colony. 1850 - English Captain Delaney recovers $130,000 in pirate treasure from a cave at Sand Cay. 1852 - Grand Turk lighthouse erected. 1857 - Waterloo, built in 1815, was acquired for the Governors residence. 1866 - The Great Bahama Hurricane devastates the TCI and the entire Bahaman chain. 1873 - Due to Civil War, salt exports drop to $0.04 per bushel. 1874 - TCI annexed to Jamaica who provided medical and technical assistance and grants following the hurricanes. 1898 - First telegraph cable, Bermuda to Grand Turk to Jamaica. First fire engine. 1911 - Theodore DeBooy of the Heye Museum of American Indians, visited and collected archaeological specimens. 1930 - Revival of the salt industry. Tax on salt accounts for 25% of Bahamas revenue. 1941 - Bahama Passage starring Madeline Carrol and Sterling Hayden filmed at Salt Cay. 1943 - 3,900,000 conch meats exported overseas. 1948 - First commercial flight to TCI. 1950 - US missile tracking station established on Grand Turk. First movie shown. 1958 - Schemes to revive South Caicos salt industry failed. 1959 - Hurricane Donna devastates all agriculture. 1962 - Jamaica becomes independent but TCI wishes to remain a British Crown Colony. 1962 - John Glenn splashed down just a mile or two off the coast of Grand Turk, and spent his first couple of days on the Island after his space flight. 1966 - Development begins on Providenciales. The first car arrives. 1968 - Airport opens on Providenciales. 1978 - Burt Webber discovers millions in treasure on the Silver Shoals. 1980 - Treasure hunting company located remains of 16th century ship on the Molasses Reef. 1991 - Turks and Caicos National Museum opens on Grand Turk. 1995 - Dr. William F. Keegan an Associate Curator of Anthropology at the Florida Museum of Natural History starts a major study of the Tainos people and culture.

Exclusive, Friendly, Uniquely Beautiful... For a romantic, family, group or executive getaway, there is no place quite like the jewel of the West Indies, the Turks Head Mansion. Set on an island filled with. this beautifully restored manor is the first-ever hotel in the Turks Caicos Islands, and is situated on a bay on the West Coast of the unspoiled island of Grand Turk. The grand old main house was built circa 1830 as the original home of the Islands Salt overseer and has served as the British Governor's guest house and American Consulate. Turks Head Mansion's atmosphere is like having your own home in the islands, completely staffed with discreet concierge and maid service, a full bar and gourmet restaurant. This is your home away from everything except relaxation and fun. Turks Head Mansion is truly a special getaway with emphasis on your privacy, comfort and relaxation.

 Guest rooms have air conditioning
 Luggage storage
 Central situation
 Credit cards accepted
 Hairdryer
 Ironing facilities
 Kitchen
 Laundry services/washing machine
 Licensed bar
 Fully stocked mini bar
 Mixed dorms
 Smoke-free guest rooms
 Parking lot
 Private park, garden, courtyard
 Quiet surroundings
 Clock/radio
 Fridge
 Restaurant
 Safe deposit box
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 Phone at reception
 Phones in rooms
 TV sets in rooms
 Tennis court
 Patio, summer terrace