Landmarks and Sites to See in the Bahamas

The Bahamas was a territory of the United Kingdom during the American Revolution, which allowed British loyalists to flee the 13 colonies and settle in the Bahamas.

Many of the landmarks and historic sites on the islands speak to this time period in the form of forts and architecture, paying homage to loyalists and their slaves whose decedents now populate the islands.Take a break from lying on the beaches and baking in the Bahamian sun to visit a few such sites and learn about this era in Bahamian history and beyond.

Forts

There are three major forts worth visiting in the Bahamas: Fort Charlotte, Fort Montagu, and Fort Fincastle. Fort Charlotte is the largest of the forts, and features a castle, unfilled moat, drawbridge, and cannons. Guided tours are available for this late 18^th century fort on a daily basis.

While Fort Charlotte is the largest, Fort Montagu is the oldest. Completed in 1742, Fort Montagu faced Montagu Bay in an effort to prevent invasions by Spanish troops. Today, the fort is often invaded by tourists who can tour the grounds, check out the cannons, and picnic at the small park inside the fort.

Finally, Fort Fincastle is perhaps the most interesting of the three, due to its odd shape. The Fort comes to a point like a ship, and features a water tower on site. The water tower is now equipped with an elevator, which allows visitors to ride to the top and get a beautiful view of Nassau.

Unique Architecture

Located in Nassau (near Fort Fincastle) is a unique landmark called Queen's Staircase. This structure is a staircase of 65 limestone steps dedicated with Queen Victoria. It was built in the late 1700s by slaves who were forced to shape the steps without the proper tools to do so.

In the Versailles Garden on Paradise Island is the Cloisters. Once a 14^th century monastery in France, it was imported piece-by-piece to the islands in the 1920s and made its home at the garden in the 1960s.

Located inside another garden in the Bahamas is the Grand Bahama Labyrinth. The Labyrinth was designed after the Christian Chartres Labyrinth, and stands with the purpose of providing a location for visitors to find their spiritual center, meditate, and focus on the power within themselves.

The cu de gra of sites that honor the memory of the British loyalists and slave workers who helped free the Bahamas from Spain and build up the island is the Memorial Sculpture Garden. Located in Green Turtle Cay, the garden features sculpted busts and full-sized statues of memorable figures of this time period.

Both beautiful and awe inspiring, each landmark in the Bahamas is a piece of history that guests can revisit time and time again. Whether you find architecture fascinating, or enjoy standing on the same grounds that those who sacrificed to make the Bahamas the country it is today, a visit to these sites is a memory that will stay with you forever.