Did You Know… St. Rose Beach Bar Has A Mystery Cannon?
In 2002, St. Rose hospital was turned into a shopping gallery, leading to one of St Maartens best known beach bars, St. Rose Beach Bar. You can still find stones reminding of children born in this hospital, as well as the landmark contours of this building, that were deliberately kept in place in its redesign.
Beach excavations for the new beach club also led to an interesting find. A tiny cannon was found, now marking the entrance to this complex on the Philipsburg Boardwalk. Its origins are unknown. Was this piece of artillery defunct, and left on Great Bay Beach to get rid of? Or was it accidentally left by Dutch forces during their fruitless attempts to reconquer Fort Amsterdam from the Spanish? History and munitions experts are welcome to examine, and to not forget to taste one of St Rose Beach Bars famed mojitos in the process.