History

Tobago’s vibrant and colourful history has made it one of the most distinctive places in the Caribbean.

In 250 BC the First People tribes like the Saladoids entered Trinidad and moved north to other Caribbean Islands including Tobago. They populated the island for centuries.

Originally named ‘Tavaco’ by the First People, after the long-stemmed pipe they used to smoke tobacco, Tobago was a natural resource of wealth. Fertile soil, a wide variety of flora and fauna, the diverse terrain were some of the elements that made the island a prized gem for the Europeans.

Christopher Columbus first spotted Tobago while sailing from Trinidad in 1498 and other explorers soon followed. Over a period of 250 years, there were numerous upheavals during the quest for ownership by the Spanish, British, Courlanders (modern-day Latvia), French, Americans, and Dutch. From the late 15th century onward, no other West Indian island has been fought over by European powers with as much intensity than Tobago.

Later, large numbers of African slaves were brought to Tobago until the end of the slave trade in 1807, and were forced to work the lands, contributing to the island’s vast sugar cane, tobacco and cotton economies. These past occurrences have left an indelible mark on most of the economic, social, cultural and notable physical aspects of Tobago. Today, the diverse community of Tobagonians has blended the influences of the past that has created a unique heritage of its own.

Tobago's Historical Timeline