National Heroes Park 🇯🇲

Spanning 50 acres (20 hectares), National Heroes Park is the largest open space in Kingston, Jamaica, offering a deeply meaningful look into the island's rich history. Originally a 1783 horse racing track known as Kingston Race Course, this botanical garden evolved into a memorial park that now serves as the final resting place for Jamaica’s national heroes, prime ministers, cultural leaders, and iconic figures like Marcus Garvey, Norman Manley, and Dennis Brown. When you visit, you will explore a landscape filled with striking monuments.

Look for the Jamaica War Memorial cenotaph topped with a 1.5-ton cross, Marcus Garvey’s tomb set within a raised black star platform, and Sir Alexander Bustamante’s impressive 30-foot arch featuring regional marble. You can also see unique memorials honoring Nanny of the Maroons—which reproduces the sound of the traditional abeng—and Samuel Sharpe's Greek cross-shaped monument. The park has also hosted historic cultural gatherings, such as Bob Marley & The Wailers' 1976 Smile Jamaica Concert.

As you walk past these sculptural monuments and botanical grounds maintained by the National Solid Waste Management Authority, you will gain a profound appreciation for the legendary figures who shaped Jamaica.

What to see at National Heroes Park

• Marcus Garvey’s monument featuring a raised black star platform and bust
• The Jamaica War Memorial cenotaph topped by a 1.5-ton cross
• Nanny of the Maroons' monument that reproduces the sound of the abeng
• Sir Alexander Bustamante’s 30-foot marble arch memorial
• The historic venue site of Bob Marley & The Wailers' 1976 Smile Jamaica Concert

Visiting tips

Time your walk to witness the Jamaica Defence Force honor guard perform the formal Changing of the Guard on the hour.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

National Heroes Park is easy to reach on Kingston’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Kingston travel guide.