Major Osmar R. Simmons Museum: A Living Room Window into Old Saba
A two-story family home in The Bottom crammed with the everyday objects of a 20th-century Saban lawman
Why Go
Tucked along the road to The Ladder, this unassuming little house feels less like a museum and more like walking uninvited into your grandparents' parlor — if your grandfather happened to be Saba's beloved Chief of Police and a lifelong collector of the island's domestic history.
The Experience
Named for Major Osmar Ralph Simmons — born on Saba in 1922, a WWII-era returnee who became the island's local Chief of Police in 1966 — the museum occupies the modest two-story family home where he lived. Inside, rooms are packed with the furniture, kitchen tools, textiles, photographs, and household oddities that Simmons, his wife, and family gathered over decades, supplemented by donations from other Saban families. It is charmingly cluttered, deeply personal, and far more intimate than the better-known Harry L. Johnson Museum up in Windwardside. Give yourself 20–40 minutes to wander, read the handwritten labels, and let a docent (if present) share stories about the objects — because on Saba, almost every item traces back to a family, a mail-boat arrival, or a hurricane.
What to Try
Look for the mid-century police memorabilia and photographs tied to Simmons' four-decade career in law enforcement; the vintage domestic ironware and kitchen implements that reveal how Sabans cooked before regular electricity; and the old family portraits and community keepsakes that map the tight-knit genealogy of The Bottom. Take your time in the upstairs rooms — that's where the more personal artifacts tend to live.
Insider Tip
Opening times are famously limited and posted only on the door itself — there's no website calendar. Before you hike over, call the Saba Tourist Bureau in Windwardside (+599-416-2231) to confirm the museum is open that day, or ask your guesthouse host to phone ahead. If you find it locked, a neighbor can often point you to whoever holds the key, which is very much part of the Saba experience. Cash-only small donation is customary — bring a few dollars.
The Practical Stuff
Address: JPGX+W9W, The Bottom, Caribbean Netherlands (a small two-story house on the road heading toward The Ladder, on the way to Well's Bay). Getting there: The Bottom is Saba's capital village; from Windwardside it's a short taxi ride or a scenic drive down the switchbacks. On foot the village is tiny and walkable, but the streets are steep — wear grippy shoes. Hours: irregular; posted on the front door. Admission: free / small donation appreciated. Facilities: no café, no gift shop, no restrooms — plan accordingly. Best time: mid-morning on weekdays, when volunteers are more likely to be around.
Pair It With
- The Ladder Guide — The museum sits on the road toward this legendary 800-step stone staircase that Sabans once used to haul cargo up from the sea — walk down a portion for context on the island life the museum documents.
- Brigadoon Guide — A short stroll away in The Bottom for a relaxed post-museum lunch of Caribbean-Mediterranean plates and a cold Carib beer.
- Amonhana Guide — Nearby local spot in The Bottom serving Saban home-style cooking — the perfect edible counterpart to the museum's kitchen-tool collection.
- Angelina's Saba By OwAiChie — A friendly neighborhood food-and-drinks stop where you can chat with locals who likely knew Major Simmons or his family.
