Fort Fincastle. Lord Dunmore established the fort in 1793 on
Bennett’s Hill as a lookout for pirates and invaders. The fort shaped like a paddle wheel was never used because Nassau was
never attacked. Three cannon are still in place, although are not original.
Later the fort was used as a lighthouse and then as a signal tower.
The views from the fort are spectacular.
There also is a 128-foot high round concrete water tower in the area.
St Andrew Kirk Dated from 1810 the church has been through many changes over the
years. In 1864 it was enlarged and a bell tower added. The Ref community considerably
increased by the end of the 18th century when the British colonists
who had remained loyal to the British crown in the revolutionary war in the
United States were forced to leave. Also a substantial number of Scottish Presbyterians
settled in the Bahamas in 1783. In 1798 they formed the St. Andrew’s Society,
and in 1810 the foundation stone of St. Andrew’s church was laid.
Christ Church This stone Cathedral in simple Gothic-style
with a square tower was started in 1837 and was consecrated in 1845. It
replaces four earlier churches stretching back to about 1670. The interior has
a fine set of stained glass windows (1868) an impressive organ and a mahogany
ceiling. The first church was destroyed by the Spaniards, the second built in
1695 was destroyed by the French and Spanish invasion of 1703. The third church
was made of wood and the fourth and present stone church dates to 1753-54. A
steeple was added in 1774 but removed in 1827
Of
particular interest are the memorial plaques from the 1800s documenting the
life histories of local residents and their deaths in shipwrecks, of yellow
fever and after childbirth.
Government House Erected in 1801 the original building was badly damaged in a 1929 hurricane and had to be demolished. The present building was finished in 1932. The statue of Columbus was imported in 1830. The interior was decorated by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in 1940.
Statue at The British Colonial Hilton
was built on the site of Old Fort Nassau (1695), once the home of the notorious
pirate, Blackbeard. After the British Crown drove Blackbeard out, Woodes
Rogers, was appointed Governor. Now, his life-like, swashbuckling image with
sword drawn and cloak swirling around him stands at the front of the hotel as a
vivid reminder of Nassau's turbulent past.
Captain
Woodes Rogers was appointed Royal Governor of the Bahamas in 1717. Before
becoming Governor, Rogers was a privateer from England sent on expeditions in
order to harass Spanish colonies throughout the Atlantic coast. From his
successful expeditions he brought many valuables back to England. Soon, his
focus remained on suppressing pirates from the Caribbean.
With all monetary and military resources from
England at his disposal, Captain Woodes Rogers also had a powerful ally: the
king’s pardon. Pirates were fully pardoned if they would agree to cease pirate
activity immediately. In the end, those who chose amnesty would later join
Rogers in confronting pirates slow to surrender that often would end with
sentencing and hanging. Eventually, Rogers was able to establish a
well-organized government and eventually expel all pirates from Nassau
Once a private estate, the Graycliff Hotel is an elegantly renovated 260 year-old British Colonial style hotel that sits next door to Government House. The hotel has a history that dates back to the 1700, the year it was built by privateer John Howard Graysmith. Legend says it once served as the officers’ mess for the West Indian Garrison. Established in 1844 as Nassau’s first inn, the Graycliff Hotel has attracted many of the rich, famous and infamous alike; notably European royalty, government leaders such as Winston Churchill and the notorious Al Capone have all made appearances at Graycliff.
In recent years a Canadian couple
bought Graycliff and completely renovated the mansion and constructed the first
swimming pool in the Bahamas surrounded with lush tropical gardens. The décor
is a blend of old and new.
The Graycliff Hotel
is also home to the Graycliff Restaurant where the Graycliff Cellar has a
collection of over 250,000 bottles of quality wines.
The Nassau library was constructed as a
Gaol in 1798-99. The three story octagonal shaped building held prisoner cells
on the first two floors. On the third floor a bell hung that summoned House
Assembly members to meetings.
In 1879 the building became the Nassau Public
Library and Museum. The old prisoner
cells now hold books, charts, artifacts and etchings.
The Vendue
House on Bay Street was erected about 1769 but only had a roof over rounded
pillars. It was erected as a convenience for traders selling their goods. This also included the sale of slaves, cattle
and imported goods. In 1913 the building
was remodeled and a second story added.
Today it houses the Pompey Museum telling the story of slaves in the
Bahamas.
You may also want to read:
Queen’s Staircase 10-12-11, Adastra Gardens and zoo 12-21-11, dolphins & ray swim 5-15-11
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