Dominica's colonial past has bequeathed to it an abundance of ruins, structures, and buildings evidencing the island's checkered but rich history. The Society for Heritage, Architectural Preservation and Enhancement (SHAPE) has identified many of these leftovers as heritage sites. Age is not the only classification criterion used in selecting sites. Recommended infrastructure must also reflect the legacy of colonial industry, culture, or defense. Many of these sites feature religious and civic structures, but plantation estates, mills, and some residential buildings are also prominent. Most of them are British, but some are French and a few Creole.

Military outposts tell tales of the colonial battles fought over the island. Perhaps the most vivid display of these relics is Fort Shirley at the Cabrits National Park in Portsmouth.

There are also remnants of sugar and water mills all over the island, some in better shape than others. At Macoucheri, a local factory still uses Pelton wheel which is powered by water. The Canefield Estate Old Mill, now the offices of the Cultural Division, is one of the best preserved traditional mills, but others like those at Rosalie, Hampsted, Hillsborough, Blenheim, Bagatelle, Geneva, and Soufriere bear some vestiges.