About 1513, on a reef located on the southern fringe of the Caicos Bank some 20 miles south of the island of Providenciales, a ship sank. This ship, known only as the Molasses Reef Wreck, is the oldest European shipwreck excavated in the Western Hemisphere. The Museum's first floor is dedicated to what archaeologists, scientists, and historians have discovered about this wreck.

For over 450 years, the wreck sat on the reef apparently undisturbed after its loss. In the mid-1970s, a pair of treasure hunters discovered it. Through their rudimentary knowledge of ordnance, they concluded that the wreck was not the usual galleon wreck sought by treasure hunters, but an earlier vessel from the late 1490s or early 1500s.

Based on this information, they leaped to the conclusion they had discovered the wreck of Columbus's ship Nina, a wreck whose fame was worth more than any treasure cargo. Making this unfounded claim, however, backfired on the treasure hunters. The National Government recognized that the wreck, Nina or not, was one of the oldest wrecks ever found in the Western Hemisphere and took over management of the site on the basis of legislation passed in 1974.

After several false starts, Government finally contracted with underwater archaeologists from Texas A&M University to excavate the wreck in 1980. Texas team, led by Dr. Donald H. Keith, began work in 1981, but not before a team of rogue treasure seekers had dynamited the wreck on the assumption that old Shipwrecks must carry treasure. In addition to damaging the site, looters stole a number of artifacts. Recently, a verso (a type of wrought-iron ordnance) came to light in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; it had been stolen from the wreck site at the time of the bombing.

Dr. Keith's team excavated the Molasses Reef Wreck between 1981 and 1986. This careful excavation comprised only about only one tenth of the total project time. The job of conserving and identifying all the objects recovered from the wreck were the major tasks.

Conservation is critical to insure the stability of objects recovered after long submersion in salt water. Without it, artifacts — particularly salt-saturated, oxidized ferrous material and water-impregnated wood — will disintegrate in open air. For this reason, archaeologists react strongly to sport divers removing objects from wrecks. Taking souvenirs not only compromises what can be learned from a wreck, but the objects thus removed are seldom conserved. They grace someone's yard for a short period until they flake away into featureless lumps of iron oxide or wither into contortions of cellulose, of no value to anyone.

Grand Turk is the capital of the and the financial center of the islands. It has the second largest population of around 3,720 people. It is one of the main historical points of the Islands. You will find many old buildings and ruins along with the National Museum. The capitols main attraction is sub aqua, with many dive operators and schools it can cater for novice snorkels to experienced divers. The major income for the island is dive orientated tourism. There is an outstanding protected coral reef which has clear and calm waters. There are 6 major accommodations.