Captain Foote House

Overview

• • This recently restored heritage building located at #1 South Street is 111 years old. The building underwent an expensive two-year restoration project to painstakingly preserve its original form and its many elegant heritage features including the steeply gabled roof, four dormers, gingerbread fascia and cornices.
• • In addition to its unique heritage architecture, what makes #1 South Place such a resource of national significance in the history of early Belize City, is that it was once the residence of the famous Canadian Captain Richard E. Foote. There are documents that chronicle his colourful character’s tremendous impact on the development of the coconut, lobster, and sponge fishing industries in San Pedro, Caye Caulker and Turneffe Atoll. He was the first to introduce to Lobster fishermen a style of trap that they currently use in this important industry. His activities impacted greatly the early history of Belize, so much so, that even Brukdown musicians recognized his fame – immortalizing him in a popular folk song, Cap’n Foote Money Gawn!
• • We believe that this elegant building, built in the early 1900’s, and kept almost completely intact in its original external form, dovetails quite nicely with the downtown Ecomuseum. The legend of Cap’n Foote will be extolled by the proprietors of this heritage building to tourists and patrons of this modern 8-bedroom hotel/cafe/bistro. The mariner-themed bar and attic apartment space are named after him.