The Pirate City of Port Royal, Jamaica

Lost Kingdoms, Sunken Cities

Once known as the ‘wickedest city on earth’ and home to swashbuckling pirates, Port Royal was a plunderous city in the Seventeenth Century. Today Port Royal is a little less lively.

In 1692 a massive earthquake caused a tsunami to hit Port Royal. Within minutes the majority of the city sank into the sea. Some considered it to be God’s retaliation in judgement of the towns barbaric behavior. Don’t mess with the big guy! The remainder of the city simply slipped into the sea but remained intact.

Since the 1950’s, Port Royal has been excavated and many of the city’s historical artifacts are on display at the Museum of History and Ethnography in Jamaica’s capital city, Kingston.