Today, a quiet and quaint haunt for tourists with about 1,000 permanent residents, Goreé played an important role in the history of Africa, particularly in the development of the slave trade. Only three kilometers from Dakar at its nearest point, the island is make up of a flat plain that ends in a steep basaltic hill (the Castle), and is only 900 meters by 300. Possibly sighted by Phoenicians and others in antiquity, it was probably first discovered by the Portuguese explorer Dias in 1444.
The island was colonized in 1817. As with Manhattan Island, the Dutch bought the island from a local chief for a pittance. Goreé became a way station for Dutch ships plying the route between their forts on the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and the Indies. The Dutch gave the island its name, most probably for "Goeree" Island in Holland, or more fancifully - according to some - for its sheltered harbor, "Goode Reede" (good harbor). Goreé changed hands many times. The British took it from the Dutch; The Dutch then recaptured it, but had to give it up again to the French during French maritime expansion under Colbert. In 1802, by the terms of the Amiens peace agreement, the island became French and remained so until Senegalese independence in 1960.

Goreé was the principal entry point off the coast of Africa for slavers and merchantmen flying the French flag. Thousands of Africans passed through this island fortress on the continent's bulge. After the abolition of the slave trade in France in 1848, Goreé was an outpost for policing the seas. As its role in trade declined, it became a stepping off point for French colonization of the interior of West Africa.

Goreé had the first school and the first printing plant in French Africa. It was also one of the "four communes" which in the 19th century were electing deputies tot he French National Assembly. Like Zanzibar off the East Coast of Africa, Goreé is important in the early history of American relations with Africa. The United States established a consulate in Senegal in 1885. Many buildings on Goreé are currently undergoing renovations, sponsored by Senegal and many other governments and international organizations.

Goree Island is less than four kilometres away from Dakar. It is located in the middle of the natural harbour formed by the south coast of the Cap- Vert Peninsula. It thus represents a safe anchorage. This explains why the island was, since the 15th century and for centuries, a high stake for different European countries which successively used it as stops and slave markets.

In Dutch, the island is called “Goede Reede”. In Wolof, it becomes “Beer”. Now, the island is commonly known as Goree. By the end of the 18th century, Goree was a prosperous crossroad where tradesmen, soldiers as well as officials lived in sumptuous scenery. Yet, it was also then a gateway to hell for thousands of African slaves.

At first sight, the island is only peace and beauty with its imposing forts and public buildings; with its pink houses, in harmony with the blue of the sea and the green of the inner gardens. Yet, many of the houses played an important role in slave trade. Indeed, during centuries, young male and female slaves were packed up for weeks in the houses’ dark and dank basements, waiting for the ships to leave. There were even torture chambers for the slaves who rebelled.

Before embarking, the slaves were labelled with their masters’ name. On the ships, they were crammed into holds where a lot would die before reaching land. In America and the West Indies, the slaves were employed in plantations and workshops.Yet, America, first associated to tragedy, would eventually be synonymous of freedom for the slaves. Slave trade was officially abolished at the 1815 Vienna Congress, as a consequence of the Haitian Revolution of 1803. The event changed the destiny of the Goree Island. Indeed, as early as 1822, educative institutions were set up in Goree.

The island eventually became an important administrative and school centre. In this respect, it shelters the William- Ponty School (also called the “Ecole normale fédérale de l’Afrique Occidentale”) which formed many African executives, some of whom took part in the decolonization of black Africa in the 1960’s. Afterwards, Goree Island knew a long period of decline.

Today, new educative institutions have opened in Goree. They form future national executives. The University of the Mutants is also located on the island. There, students analyse the most interesting aspects of the world’s different cultures so as to develop brotherhood and universal cooperation.

For centuries, Goree Island was, for both Africa and Black America, synonymous of pain and grief. Today, the island seems to be symbol of hope: more and more people meet there as for a pilgrimage. They are the descendants of former slaves, looking for their roots and also people that perceive, in the island history, the reasons of a new strengthened international fraternity.

Goree has been the place of deep suffering and of great joys too. The island has got over many difficulties. Throughout the years, it has also kept a certain architectural coherence that, originally, gathers different cultural contributions that go from the North to the Mediterranean architectural characteristics. The smallness of the space and the island’s complex and tormented history may be the main reasons to explain such an architectural heritage.

Goree Island gives us a happy symbiosis of the present and the past. Thus, it now constitutes one of these unique places in the world where the young African and American generations can immerse in the past so as to gain more confidence and inspiration. Such a place certainly belongs to Africa and America but, on a large scale, it is a universal heritage. It may become a land of meditation and contemplation where men, now aware of their history and its tragedy, will appreciate even more justice and brotherhood.

The Slave House: Built in 1776 by the Dutch, the slave House is one of several sites on the island where Africans were brought to be loaded onto ships bound for the New World. The owner's residential quarters were on the upper floor. The lower floor was reserved for the slaves who were weighed, fed and held before departing on the transatlantic journey. The Slave House with its famous "Door of No Return" has been preserved in its original state. Thousands of tourists visit the house each year.

The Botanical Gardens: Located on the Rue du Port, the gardens were founded by the French in 1667 and remain open to the public.

The Church of St. Charles: Located on the Place de l'Eglise, the church was built with public contributions in 1830 in the style of provincial churches in western France.

The Castle: Originally built by the Dutch in the 17th century, the fortress has been razed and reconstructed several times. In the 18th century it housed the residence of the Governor of Senegal and in 1940 it was bombarded by a combined British and Free French naval force.

William Ponty School: From 1913-1937, this building housed the Ecole Normale William Ponty where many African leaders were educated.

Strickland House: The site of the first American Consulate established in West Africa. It was the home of American businessman Peter Strickland who came to Africa in 1878 as a representative of the Boston trading firm and was named the US Consul in 1883.

Université des Mutants: This university, founded by former Senegal President Senghor, was established to bring together the best minds of Africa. It is the site of frequent conferences on current cultural and economic issues for developing nations.

Hostellerie du Chevalier de Boufflers: This well-known restaurant was named after the first French Governor of Senegal, a colorful figure who moved to Goreé from the Capital of St. Louis (northwest coast) and is reported to have broken many hearts upon his return to France in 1788.

Historic Museum: Opened in 1989, the museum has exhibits on anthropology, West African pre-history and the political and religious history of Senegal.