Central Yankee Town, West Caicos.
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Yankee Town West Caicos

The iconic Burrell traction engine at Yankee Town.

Found on the remote central west coast of uninhabited West Caicos, Yankee Town is a late 19th-century abandoned and ruined settlement. Established by the West Caicos Sisal Company in 1891, this site was the base of operations for sisal and cotton planting.

Due to the contained nature of the settlement and certain historical features, Yankee Town is one of the finest historical sites in the Turks and Caicos.

Unlike the late 18th century Loyalist-era plantations on North Caicos, Middle Caicos, and Providenciales—which mainly focused on growing sea island cotton—West Caicos' primary crop was the fibrous agave plant known as sisal. After initial processing, the fiber extracted from the long leaves of the sisal plant was exported for rope production.

Of all the major agriculture attempts in the Turks and Caicos, the Yankee Town plantings of the West Caicos Sisal Company were the shortest-lived. Although obvious care and attention went into the construction of the settlement, the site and parent company were operational for only one decade and work ceased in 1903. Evidence suggests that financial mismanagement prematurely put an end to the business.

Approximately seven stone buildings, several cisterns, wells, the machinery, and the railroad are the remaining standing testaments to Yankee Town.

Warnings & Regulations

Yankee Town is not an official tourist attraction and as such has no safety considerations or paths onsite. The interior Lake Catherine is a nature reserve and highly important to many types of coastal and wading birds. Avoid entering this region. See coral sumac for tips on identifying the tree.

Coral Sumac Trees
Coral sumac trees are found here. They are highly toxic and can cause a severe, painful rash. Do not touch the tree or leaves.
Hidden Dangers
Many of the buildings and features are crumbling, and numerous deep wells and cisterns are hidden in the underbrush. Care must be taken to avoid injury.
Remote Location
This is an isolated area. Help may be far away in the event of an emergency, and there may be a higher risk of crime.
Risk of Falling
Beware of loose rocks, crevices, and other hazards in this area. Watch where you step and wear proper footwear.
Do Not Take Artifacts
Removing or damaging historical artifacts is illegal. Violators will face large fines and jail time.
Do Not Take Shells or Coral
It is illegal to remove shells, corals, plants, animals, and sand from a National Park without government permission.
Do Not Touch Fish or Coral
Keep well away from all marine life. Certain fish and animal species are venomous, and touching them may result in serious injury.
Limited Emergency Services
This area has limited emergency services available. Help may be far away and response times can be slow.
No Graffiti
Defacing historical features or artifacts is illegal. Graffiti and rock carving are prohibited. Violators can face large fines and jail time.
No Rock Balancing
Leave stones in place. It is illegal to disturb a protected area. Moving rocks can compromise the local ecosystem.

The Transition From Steam

Aerial view of causeway on West Caicos
The West Caicos causeway. Yankee Town is in the upper right of the image.

Yankee Town is a great place to explore the history of the Turks and Caicos. Several pieces of interesting antique heavy machinery still stand in Yankee Town.

The Burrell Traction Engine

The best-known antique machine is a largely intact and massive Burrell traction engine, a precursor to the modern farm tractor. Although the sheet iron boiler and tanks have seen serious corrosion and decay, the cast iron components have actually fared quite well considering the marine environment.

This circa 1904 steam "road locomotive" was built by Charles Burrell and Co in Thetford, England. It was commissioned by Pita Ltd (pita is a synonym for sisal).

There is somewhat of a mystery surrounding the initial intended destination for the engine. Records indicate that the machine was destined for West India, and was mistakenly shipped to West Caicos in the West Indies. The 1904 manufacture date of the tractor appears to back this up, as Yankee Town would have been largely defunct by this year.

Crossley Kerosene Engine

The Crossley kerosene engine.

Another beautiful piece is a Crossley horizontal kerosene (paraffin oil) engine produced in Manchester, England in the final years of the 1800s. This primitive internal combustion engine appears to have been set up to run large belts (probably to turn pumps) or possibly T. A. Smith’s patented “Fiber Decorticating Machine,” which was used to process sisal leaves.

It’s quite fascinating to see a prime example of the transition point in history when the steam engine conceded to the internal combustion engine.

Several boilers and a pump still remain hidden in the low vegetation as well.

The Railroad

Ruin in Yankee Town.

Built to facilitate the efficient movement of the sisal crop, a rock causeway with a small gauge railroad was constructed across the central Lake Catherine. This system supported donkey-drawn rail carts, similar to what was used in the guano cave excavations on East Caicos.

The railroad causeway across Lake Catherine, West Caicos.

Contrary to the railroad on East Caicos, which used wood sleepers (likely sourced locally), the West Caicos railroad used stamped sheet metal sleepers. Although pressed out of a thin ferrous metal, the majority remain intact despite the high salinity of the adjacent water.

The railroad also features another unique sight for the Turks and Caicos: a railway cut through a small limestone hill.

A Unique Currency

As was likewise the case with a few of the larger sea salt production firms that operated on Grand Turk, South Caicos, and Salt Cay, the West Caicos Sisal Company issued token coins as payment to its workers.

Stuck from nickel and brass by S. H. Quint of Philadelphia, these tokens were produced in one and two shilling, sixpence, threepence, penny, and halfpenny denominations.

These tokens were only accepted in the company store, which definitely limited the financial freedom of the field workers.

Above: The Yankee Town historical site.   Top right:  Top left:  A boiler, one of the many examples of machinery at the historical site.   Bottom right:  Top right:  Sea island cotton growing at Yankee Town.  

Access and Visiting

Although the grounds surrounding Yankee Town are relatively open, access remains difficult due to the general location and remoteness of West Caicos.

Several of the Providenciales boat charters do occasionally visit the excellent nearby snorkeling sites of the West Caicos Marine National Park, and it’s often a possibility on such an excursion to swim ashore and scale the low coastal cliffs to visit Yankee Town.

To get the most from your visit, you may want to consider going with a knowledgeable outdoor guide.

Preservation and Protected Status

Yankee Town is a historical site. It is illegal to damage the site or take any artifacts.

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