HARP SUPERGUN
About This Museum
The HARP Supergun in Barbados is a fascinating and slightly surreal relic of Cold War ambition. It all started in the 1960s as a joint US-Canadian project to test high-altitude ballistics, essentially using this massive gun to fire payloads to the edge of space instead of expensive rockets. Today, its rust-streaked barrel points silently towards the Caribbean sky from a quiet field in Charnocks, creating an almost sci-fi atmosphere that feels entirely out of place. It’s a truly unique piece of history that you won't find anywhere else.
Collection Highlights
The main event is the gun itself—a colossal 16-inch, 119-foot-long naval cannon barrel mounted on a concrete emplacement. You can walk right up to the rusting steel behemoth and see the loading mechanism and support structures up close. Informative plaques nearby tell the story of Project HARP and its visionary lead scientist, Gerald Bull.
Visitor Information
It's not a formal museum with set hours or an admission fee; you just show up. The site is outdoors and accessible anytime, but there are no facilities, so bring water and wear sensible shoes for walking on uneven ground.
Architecture & Building
This isn't architecture in the traditional sense; it's pure industrial military engineering. The structure is dominated by the enormous, weathered gun barrel laid horizontally on a massive reinforced concrete base, surrounded by utilitarian metal supports and old concrete pads.
Contact & Location
Address: Charnocks, Christ Church, Barbados
Website: Visit Website
