Port of Spain, today is not only the Capital of Trinidad and Tobago but also the "heart" of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and certainly the "launch pad" to the Americas but it was not always the capital. At least not until September 1784, when the last Spanish Governor, Don Jose Maria Chacon arrived.
Known by the Spaniards as Puerto de los Hispanioles ... the port where the Spaniards landed ... this strip of coast was next to Cu-Mucurapo the Arawak village ... now Mucurapo ... meaning the "Place of the Silk Cotton Tree".
This area, according to Michael Anthony in his Towns and Villages of Trinidad and Tobago, is mentioned by Sir Walter Raleigh when he came in March 1595 in search of El Dorado.
The Red House
Water Riots and Red House Fire in 1903
Great Fire of March 5, 1895 and 1808.
On March 5, 1895 electricity replaced gas, which was introduced in 1870, to light up the streets.
The Savannah
The Savannah -- approximately 260 acres.
The parcel of land known as Paradise Estate was sold in 1817 by the Heirs of Madame Peschier to the Cabildo for £6,000 as a recreation ground for the citizens of Port of Spain.
Seven years later, the Cabildo transferred the Estate for £10,363 to the Colonial Government and thereafter, the Queen's Park Savannah was laid out. In 1882 the Queen's Park Ordinance was passed to regulate its use.
In 1947, a little over four acres was leased to the Trinidad Turf Club and in 1994, the Grand Stand built in 1950, and its environs were placed under the National Carnival Committee's control, when the Turf Club departed to Santa Rosa.
June 26, 1895, Lady Broome, wife of the then Governor Napier Broome formally inaugurated the First Electric Tram service
The Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago Inc. was founded on April 23, 1947 and by Ordinance No.12 of 1952 dated April 12, 1952, the society was constituted a corporate body. On November 8, 1952 the Emperor Valley Zoo opened its gates to the public. At that time the zoo consisted of 2.5 hectares of land, 10 cages, 127 animals, one gate house and a kiosk. Today the Emperor Valley Zoo had expanded in many ways and continue to attract visitors, including local and foreign students. Last Update 9:23PM 10/4/97