A place of interest worth checking out during your Fort Charles tour is the Giddy House.

The building originally served as a military artillery house designed to store cannons and ammunition for the defence of the town and naval base. However, what makes the Giddy House interesting and gave it its name is its current state. Following a powerful earthquake in 1907, the building partially sank into the sandy ground, causing it to tilt at a precarious angle.

Today, when you enter the Giddy House, you’ll experience a disorienting sensation as the floors and walls lean at odd angles. It’s almost like being inside a funhouse and walking across its floors quickly will give one a “giddy” feeling, almost like being drunk.

The Giddy House serves as a reminder of the Caribbean’s geological instability, as Jamaica is located near the boundary of the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates, making it prone to earthquakes.