difficult to ascertain, his original moon gate still stands today at the center of Hamilton’s Queens Park, the former site of the Bermudiana Hotel. This magnificent property welcomed affluent visitors arriving on first-class ship liners who would stay for a weekly rate of $1,000 (equivalent to about $16,000 in 2021). “The circular shape was probably very fashionable at the time, and there was a push to incorporate interesting architectural designs after World War I,” Colin added. A century later, that shape continues to be in vogue across Bermuda. Colin’s architecture firm has been responsible for quite a few moon gates. He even designed a home around an existing moon gate for a homeowner who wanted an unobstructed view of the circle from his bedroom. “Building a moon gate from Bermudian limestone can be quite the challenge if you are unfamiliar with the stone. Additionally, to support the keystone at the top, you need to provide structural support for the midsection, otherwise your circle will buckle, and your luck will run out.” Far removed from its beginnings as an interesting garden feature, the moon gate is deeply rooted in Bermuda’s culture as an iconic symbol of good fortune and love. It is a local tradition for newlyweds to walk underneath the moon gate together, even have their wedding celebrations with these circles in the background. “As silly as it may seem, Bermudians still like it,” Colin said. “In some ways, the moon gate represents a softer, kinder world, where anything is possible. It’s as if hope can be captured in this little circle.” Special thanks to Colin Campbell, senior architect and director of the prestigious design firm OBM Bermuda, for sharing his insight and expertise. Mari de Armas is a travel writer specializing in luxury cruising. She is a regular contributor to the official blog of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Luxury Goes Exploring. Read more of her posts at RSSCBlog.com.
Transport yourself to a more hopeful world on a sailing to Bermuda.
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