One of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere, the Nidhe Israel Synagogue is at present the only synagogue in Barbados. Built in 1654, it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1831 and subsequently fell into disrepair until its sale in 1929. Today the building belongs to the National Trust, but is actually still utilized as a synagogue and is home to a museum which chronicles the story and achievements of the Jewish community of Barbados.\n\nIn 2011 the Synagogue and excavated Mikvah were designated as UNESCO-protected properties within the World Heritage Site of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison area.