The Bahamas Landmarks

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.

Museums

In case you like to expand your knowledge of other cultures and places, you might want to visit a museum during your time in the Bahamas. Click on the each name to obtain detailed information.

A landmark worth visiting is Wyannie Malone Museum. It is Hopetown, in northwestern the Bahamas. Named after Hope Town's founder, this museum showcases the history of the area with photography and artifacts. They host events for the island's Heritage Day and track the genealogy of the Malone family.

Another interesting landmark worth visiting is Pirates of Nassau. It is located in downtown Nassau. Pirates of Nassau is open 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily, except Sunday, when they close at noon.

Bahamas Historical Society Museum: Exhibits at the museum feature collections of historic relics including a coat of arms, the islands' Declaration of Independence, stone slabs featuring petroglyphs, and scale models of historic ships.

The table just below shows some key facts regarding some museums you might enjoy in the Bahamas.

Historical Sites

If you like to immerse yourself in the history of a foreign country, you should consider visiting one or two of these historical sites while on vacation in the Bahamas.

One popular destination is Cloisters. It is located within Paradise Island, the Bahamas. The Cloisters are the ruins of a French Monastery with a lot of history. Built in the 1300's, the ruins did not find their way to the Bahamas until the 1960's.

If you are looking to do more sight-seeing, visit Fort Montagu. It is located within Nassau, the Bahamas. When the fort was originally built it stood tall and proud, containing barracks, a guard room, a powder magazine, and more. Now, the fort stands in ruins, but tourists are drawn to the military attraction.

Queen's Staircase: The Queen's Staircase is open to the public always, but it is recommended that tourists only visit this spot during daylight hours.

Take a moment to look through this table for a list of historical sites in the area.

Miscellaneous Landmarks

Vacationers may experience some other interesting sites to visit in this area.

A landmark worth visiting is Sacred Spaces: Women & Welcome. It is located in the Bahamas. Sculpted by local artist Antonius Roberts, these wood women looking to the horizon stand in honor and remembrance of all the African women who were once enslaved on the island.

If you are looking to do more sight-seeing, visit Grand Bahama Labyrinth. It is situated at Garden of the Groves and Garden of the Groves, in western the Bahamas. The Labyrinth is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on Fridays when it stays open until 10:00 p.m.

Memorial Sculpture Garden: The Memorial Sculpture Garden contains 24 busts of important Bahamians who represent different islands. The centerpiece of the garden is two life-sized bronze statues of a black girl and a white girl, one holding a conch and the other the Union Jack.

The chart directly below offers some details regarding other kinds of places of interest to vacationers.

If you want to learn about more attractions beyond what's offered in this category, you should look beyond these choices. To read more about other attractions for the Bahamas, click here.

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 14th 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 on 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.