Green Turtle
Cay lies just 160 miles off the South Florida Coast, due East of Palm Beach.
The village of New Plymouth, located on the southern tip, is home to just
over 500 persons most of whom can trace their ancestral roots to the Revolutionary
War Loyalists who first settled the island. The village offers a variety
of galleries, restaurants and shops where gold jewellery manufactured in
Abaco and beautiful Bahamian art work are among some of the treasures that
can be purchased. New Plymouth is home to the Bahamas Premier artist,
Alton Lowe, who opens his private museum to the public periodically during
the year.
Key West,
Florida is the Sister City to New Plymouth and just recently opened a sculpture
garden modelled after the Sculpture Garden of New Plymouth. Many of
the residents of Key West can trace their roots to early settlers from New
Plymouth who left the Cay with their homes on sailing barges in the 1830's.
As late as 1912, 60% of the residents of Key West were Bahamian seafarers.
Key West and New Plymouth fly each others flags to celebrate the Sister City
relationship. New Plymouth, with it's pastel painted clapboard cottages
with white picket fences and stone walls is reminiscent of a New England fishing
village of the past. The early settlers became skilful seamen and boat builders
passing these crafts on through the generations.
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