The largest of the three
forts still on the island,
Fort Charlotte was built by
Lord Dunmore in 1789 to
guard the western entrance
to the harbor. Today, it
offers a waterless moat,
ramparts, canons,
underground passages to
dungeon rooms, and
spectacular views of
Paradise Island, the harbor
and much of Nassau. Happily,
the fort never fired a shot
in battle. Costumed and
trained tour guides, working
for tips, are available to
enrich your visit with tales
of the history of the area.
Probably
the most famous architectural sight in Nassau, the Queen's
Staircase is a flight of 66 steps that links Fort Fincastle to
the Princess Margaret Hospital. What makes it remarkable is that
the staircase was not built, but carved out of calcareos
(coral-based) sandstone at the end of the 18th century. 