A massive restoration project nearing completion will hand back to Bermuda one of the most important buildings on the Island.

And the $6 million renovation of the landmark Commissioner's House at Dockyard will provide the Maritime Museum with its biggest boost in 25 years.

Workmen are busy completing the final stages of the painstaking project and once the finishing touches are put to the house, it will almost double the size of the current museum.

Maritime Museum director Edward Harris said the completion will provide much-needed presentation space and will enable future fund raising to concentrate on exhibits.

"For the first time in 24 years it gives us a major opportunity to expand our range of exhibits,'' he said.

"It has been a major building project which has taken a tremendous amount of money and time.

"It is one of the most prominent buildings in Bermuda. Because of its location there will be nowhere else like it.'' In addition to several thousand feet of museum space, the finished house, which was last occupied in 1951, will feature several rooms on the top floor for hire.

And with verandahs on three sides and commanding views over the Island and ocean, it is expected to be a hit for meetings, conventions and weddings.

"There is tremendous interest already from the Department of Tourism, for example for group incentive trips. This is going to be a major asset for tourism,'' Dr. Harris said.

As part of the plans for the museum floors, he is keen to integrate sections of Bermudian life that have lacked previous recognition.

The Azores Room will be dedicated to the contribution made by the Portuguese community to Bermuda.

Due to be dedicated in May, the museum is working with the Portuguese Cultural Association and Vasco da Gama Club in gathering memorabilia and artifacts.

And they are keen to hear from the public who may have items that will help tell the story and can help with fund raising.

*** "Because of the constraints on space (in the rest of the museum), we have got new space available and we are expanding the range of exhibits to include more of the range of people that are associated with Bermuda,'' Dr. Harris said.

Other rooms will detail the Island and its connection with the slave routes.

And the Newport to Bermuda Yacht Race will have pride of place, with an exhibit open in time for next June's event -- after being on show at Newport, Rhode Island earlier in the year.

Another planned permanent exhibit will tell the story of Bermuda's links with the West Indies.

And as well as the two museum floors, the top floor "venue'' will feature themed rooms, dedicated to the armed forces of Britain, Canada and America, which once inhabited Bermuda.

Military memorabilia will help re-create the atmosphere. For example, a table rescued when the US forces pulled out and a 32-foot-long dining centrepiece, complete with chairs, imported from Britain will add to the setting.

The rooms open out to huge verandahs on three sides of the building, providing spectacular vistas of the Island and beyond. Currently nearing completion, the original railings will adorn the edges.

Built by 1830, the building can claim to be the world's first cast-iron framed structure -- prefabricated and shipped from Britain.

Unfortunately, shortly after its completion, the office of Commissioner -- who was responsible for ship repairs at Dockyard -- was abolished. Thereafter, the house was used by officers and troops.

In 1919, it became the station ship, HMS Malabar, and was in use until 1951.

It then fell into disrepair, before renovations started in the late 1980s.

The final phase began in 1998, with most of the major work being tackled. The lighting, plumbing and woodwork, some original, and other to match the former mahogany that lined the walls, floors and doors, were all completed.

A massive public fund raising project, begun in the 1980s, has bought all the money for the house, and more. The Government also pumped in $500,000.

With the Azores Room due to be dedicated during Heritage Month next May, it is anticipated the full opening of the house will follow later in the year.

And then work will start on the grounds, with the approach road and gun emplacements receiving some attention.

Just as it was: Maritime Museum director Dr. Ed Harris poses beside one of the newly restored mahogany windows at the Commissioner's House.

Bringing history alive: Bermuda Maritime Museum director Dr. Ed Harris with some of the artifacts adorning the walls of the Commissioner's House.