The many sights of Stanley
Stanley is the administrative center of the Falklands and has a population of approximately 2,500 people. During our visits there, you are free to explore the town on your own. Stanley offers an award-winning museum, the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world, and many other interesting historic attractions.
Stanley’s shipwrecks, museum, and more
In Stanley and its surrounding area, you can see a number of shipwrecks of varying ages that provide insight into the island’s past. Among other things, these artifacts bear witness to the dangerous profession of 19th-century sailors.
Stanley’s museum, the Falkland Islands Museum & National Trust, is another great attraction that is free to visit for our guests. This museum includes detailed galleries about the 1982 War, Antarctic heritage, and the Falklands’ maritime, social, and natural history.
One of Stanley’s other interesting sites is Christ Church Cathedral, where you can take a picture near the whalebone arch just outside. Christ Church is the world’s southernmost Anglican cathedral and was built in 1892 after the original church was demolished in a landslide.
The past excitements of Stanley
Stanley was once a small and isolated outpost, but in the 19th and early 20th century it saw plenty of activity after becoming a repair port for ships rounding the stormy Cape Horn. Vessels damaged by the weather pulled into Stanley for repairs, and many of the ships that could not go on can still be seen around town.
After the Panama Canal was completed in 1914, the Cape Horn route became obsolete and Stanley returned once more to its quieter existence, its residence surviving mainly from the export of wool. Since 1982, however, Stanley has continued to grow and is now a frequent stop for expedition cruise vessels.
Stanley becomes a city
During a 2022 British event known as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the UK gave Stanley city status – the first time a town in a British Overseas Territory has become a city. Though the designation does not grant Stanley any special rights, it does confer upon it more prestige (and often more tourism). We do not visit Stanley on all our Falkland expeditions, but it always makes for a pleasant stop when we do.
