NASSAU, The Bahamas – Blue Lagoon Island has officially celebrated the 100th anniversary of its historic Watch Tower, one of the island’s most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of Bahamian heritage since 1926.

The centennial rededication ceremony featured the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and the release of a special 100-year anniversary banner from the top of the three-story structure. Local officials, tourism leaders and members of the McCutcheon family attended the event.

The Watch Tower was originally built in 1926 by acclaimed Chicago architect Howard Van Doren Shaw for Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and war correspondent John T. McCutcheon. Ahead of the celebration, the landmark underwent renovations that included a new interior staircase and reinforced flooring designed to welcome a new generation of visitors.

“The Watch Tower stands as a sentinel of our past and a beacon for our future,” said Robert Meister, Managing Director of Blue Lagoon Island. “We honor the island’s remarkable history by preserving this landmark from its days as a communication outpost to its role in inspiring Bahamian culture, while ensuring it remains a central part of the guest experience for the next hundred years.”

Bahamas Director General of Tourism Latia Duncombe emphasized the importance of heritage tourism to the country’s long-term tourism strategy.

“Landmarks like this play an important role in our strategy. They ground us. They remind us that as we evolve, we must also preserve, because the strength of our tourism product is not only in development, but also in identity,” Duncombe said.

Following the ceremony, guests gathered at the newly renovated Serenity Cove, Blue Lagoon Island’s adults-only beach area. The event highlighted Bahamian-owned businesses and locally made products, including traditional bush teas, rum cakes and handcrafted ice cream, as part of the island’s sustainability initiative.

The celebration also drew attention to the tower’s connection to the world-famous folk song “Sloop John B.,” later popularized internationally by The Beach Boys.

The Watch Tower permanently houses two original artifacts from the vessel that inspired the song: a ring-bolt and a “knee of horseflesh.” Stones from several important Bahamian landmarks, including Vendue House, Fort Charlotte, Fort Montagu and Fort Fincastle, have also been incorporated into the tower.

For the McCutcheon family, the landmark remains closely tied to generations of personal memories. Shaw McCutcheon, grandson of John T. McCutcheon and descendant of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, recalled exploring the tower as a child.

“I remember climbing to the top as a kid and spending so much time there,” he said. “It’s remarkable that it has endured for more than a century, and hopefully it will stand for many more years to come.”

The Watch Tower’s centennial further strengthens Blue Lagoon Island’s position as one of the most distinctive tourism attractions in The Bahamas, blending history, culture and authentic local experiences for visitors from around the world.