Bluck's Island, Bermuda facts for kids

Bluck's Island is a small island located in the beautiful harbor of Hamilton in Warwick Parish, Bermuda. It's a fascinating place with a rich history, known by a few different names over the years.

The Story of Bluck's Island

Bluck's Island has had several names throughout its history. It was once known as Dyer's Island and later Denslow's Island. Each name tells a bit about who owned or lived on the island at different times.

Early Owners: The Dyer Family

In the 1800s, the island was called Dyer's Island. This was because the Dyer family owned it during the 19th century. It was a private piece of land for them for many years.

The King of Denslow Islands

One of the most interesting owners of the island was William Wallace Denslow. He was a famous illustrator in the early 1900s. He's best known for drawing the pictures in the original "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book!

Denslow bought the island and even built a house there. He loved his island so much that he jokingly declared himself "King Denslow I." He called himself the "Monarch of Denslow Islands and Protector of Coral Reefs." It sounds like he had a lot of fun living there!

A Home for Science

For a short time, between 1917 and 1919, Bluck's Island became a place for science. The Bermuda Biological Station for Research moved its operations there. This happened because their usual home on Agar's Island was being used for military purposes during that time. Scientists used Bluck's Island to continue their important studies of marine life and the ocean.

Today, Bluck's Island remains a part of Bermuda's history, with stories of families, artists, and scientists who once called it home.