Possession of the island of Tobago has been fought over by many nations for several centuries since being discovered by Columbus in 1498. The original Carib population were forced to defend their island against other Amerindian tribes, then against European colonists during the late 1500's and early 1600's. Over the years, the Dutch, English and French transformed Tobago into a battle zone and the island changed hands 31 times before it was finally ceded to the British in 1814 under the Treaty of Paris.

From about 1672, during a period of stability that came with temporary British rule, plantation culture began. Sugar, cotton and indigo factories sprang up and Africans were imported to work on the estates as slaves. The economy flourished and by 1777 Tobago was exporting great quantities of rum, cotton, indigo and sugar. However, when the French invaded again in 1781, destroying the plantations and forcing the British governor to surrender, the island's buoyant economy fell into decline. The colonial period was a time of constant change in Tobago with the French, Dutch, and British forces fighting over for possession of the island and in total Tobago changed hands twenty two times, more often than any other West Indian island.

In 1814, when the island was again under British control, another phase of successful sugar production followed. But a severe storm in 1847, combined with the collapse of the West India Bank (plantation underwriters), marked the end of the sugar trade in Tobago. Without the highly profitable sugar production, Britain had no further use for Tobago and in 1888 Trinidad and Tobago were incorporated into a single colony.

In 1958, the United Kingdom tried to establish an independent Federation of the West Indies comprising most of the former British West Indies. However, disagreement over the structure of the federation and Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago's withdrawal soon led to its collapse. Trinidad and Tobago achieved full independence in 1962 and joined the British Commonwealth.

No visit to Tobago is complete without a trip to the First Historical Café on the Windward Road, east of Granby Point. This colourful roadside cafe with its brilliant painted bamboo decor, gravel floors and seaward views provides a taste of Tobago's history and culture. It is like walking into a time capsule! Have a chat with the proprietor and get a guided tour of the walls, which are adorned with the historical and cultural facts.