History

History of Trinidad and the Steel Drum 

Legend has it that while Christopher Columbus was on his third voyage to the New World (1498), he made a vow to name the first new land he saw after the Holy Trinity. In mid-summer, the look-out sailor, Alonzo Perez, came down from the masthead and reported that he saw three hills on the horizon. When he heard this, Columbus was reminded of his promise and named the island Trinidad, which is Spanish for Trinity. Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Trinidad on July 31, 1498.

After World War II, Trinidadians invented the first steel drums (or pans) from 55-gallon metal containers originally used to store petroleum. They beat on the drums with short sticks that were wrapped on one end with salvaged rubber from bicycle inner tubes. 

Feel free to watch the video below to learn more from Ellie Mannette, "Father of the Modern Steel Drum!"