On the eastern end of the island in St. George’s parish, the Town of St. George is our first and oldest town. It served as our island's first capitol until 1815 when Hamilton took over. St. George’s is the oldest continuously inhabited town of English origin in the New World, and has retained its charm and character into the 21st Century. 400 years of history can be found in the buildings architecture and military fortifications. Reenactments of the dunking stool and take place during the warmer months. St. George’s is known for its historic town square, harbor and quaint narrow streets (with equally quaint names such as Needle and Thread Alley, Old Maid’s Lane and Petticoat Alley). It all evokes a history when churches and houses were made from hand-quarried stone and boats were crafted out of Bermuda cedar. Today, you can visit the historic houses to relive the colonial lifestyle.