Philatelic Photograph: Parliament Square - Nassau, Bahamas

Parliament Square

Nassau, Bahamas

GPS: N25° 04.665; W077° 20.428

Parliament Square on Selvage of Sheet

Short Description: 

Parliament Square is located north of Bay Street between Parliament Street and Bank Lane in downtown Nassau.

Long Description:

The buildings in Parliament Square were constructed in 1815 by the Loyalists who fled to the Bahamas from the United States during the American Revolution. These three colonial style government buildings are painted a bright pink with white trim and green shutters.

The Bahamian Parliament includes a 16 member Senate and a 38 member House of Assembly. The westernmost building is the House of Assembly. This is where the Bahamian parliament meets. The building in the center is occupied by the Bahamian senate and the eastmost building houses the offices of the Leader of the Opposition. In the middle of the public square is a marble statue of Queen Victoria which was erected on her birthday May 24, 1905.

Queen Victoria

The stamp was issued by Bahamas on January 1, 1954 as the high value of a definitive series of 16 stamps depicting Bahamas sights.

Forts: Fort Fincastle - Nassau, Bahamas

Fort Fincastle

Nassau, Bahamas

Fort Fincastle

GPS: N 25° 04.416 W 077° 20.314

Short Description:

Fort Fincastle is located at the top of the Queen's Staircase on Bennett's Hill in Nassau, Bahamas.

Long Description:

A wooden framed sign near the entrance to the fort recounts the history of the fort. it is inscribed:

{Silhouette of a Cannon}
Fort Fincastle 
     c. 1793

Welcome

Fort Fincastle 

One of a series of fortifications built during the late 
1600s and 1700s, this sturdy fort helped to 
protect the island of New Providence and Nassau
harbour. Fort Montagu to the east and Fort
Charlotte to the west also remain standing, as do a
series of small batteries across the island.

Completed in 1793, Fort Fincastle stood
watch over the town of Nassau and its harbour to the 
east, serving primarily as a lookout post. Though 
originally armed with seven cannons, this small fort 
was never tested in battle. 

A second plaque attached to a limestone block near the ground is inscribed:

BAHAMAS HISTORICAL SITE

FORT FINCASTLE

{Seal of the Bahamas}Fort Fincastle was built in 1793 by Lord Dunmore, a
Royal Governor (1787 - 1796), whose second title was Viscount Fincastle.
The fort, shaped like an old paddle wheel steamer, was built to protect 
the city from invasion but saw little action. it served as a lighthouse until 
1818 and was subsequently used as a signal tower.  

The Harbor from Fort Fincastle

Water Tower: Fort Fincastle Water Tower - Nassau, Bahamas

Fort Fincastle Water Tower
Nassau, Bahamas

GPS: N 25° 04.392 W 077° 20.285

Short Description:

The historic Fort Fincastle Water Tower is locate at the top of the Queen's Staircase on Bennett's Hill.

Long Description:

The Fort Fincastle Water Tower was declared a water landmark on May 3, 1993. A sign next to the tower is inscribed:

Bahamas Historical Site

The Water Tower

This tower was constructed in 1928 of reinforced concrete 

to supply water to the City of Nassau. The tower is 126 feet high and it

rises 216 feet above sea level. Atop the tower is a revolving white and 

green light visible to ships 20 miles out to sea. The tower is open to

the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week. 

Philatelic Photograph: Queen's Staircase - Nassau, Bahamas

Queen's Staircase

Nassau, Bahamas

GPS: N25° 04.415; W077° 20.264

Short Description: 

The Queen's Staircase connects lower Nassau by Princess Margaret Hospital to Bennet's Hill, the highest point in Nassau, which features the Historic Water Tower and Fort Fincastle.

Top of the Steps

Long Description:

The Queen's Staircase is one of the most popular sights in Nassau. The steps and passageway was excavated out of limestone completely by hand by slaves from 1793 to 1794. The staircase is 102 feet tall and contains 65 steps. It was later named in honor of the 64 year reign (1837 - 1901) of Queen Victoria.

Resort: Atlantis - Paradise Island, Bahamas

Atlantis Resort
Paradise Island, Bahamas

Atlantis From The Cruise Ship Port

GPS: N25° 5.012; W77° 19.223

Short Description:

The Atlantis Paradise Island is a resort and waterpark located on Paradise Island off the north cost of Nassau in the Bahamas. It can be reached by a pair of bridges or by shuttle boat from near the cruise ship dock.

Long Description:


Atlantis was created by South African Sol Kerzner and Kerzner International Limited on Paradise Island. The Coral and Beach Towers in opened in 1998.  The resort was renamed Atlantis after the Royal Towers were built on March 28,  2007. The 600 suite luxury hotel, The Cove Atlantis, was  opened. Then  the 497 room Reef Atlantis was opened on  December 19, 2007.

The complex contains a number of attractions which are free to guests and available to cruise ship passengers who purchase day passes.

Mayan Pyramid Temple

Aquaventure water park was opened in 2007. The 141 acre park uses  200 million gallon of water to supply a waterscape that includes water slides, rivers, and rapids. The Current is a mile long water ride that uses 3 million gallon of water to create waves and artificial tidal surges. Mayan Leap of Faith & Shark Tank is modelled after a  Mayan Pyramid Temple. It contains several water water slides including one that passes through a shark tank. The Dig and Marine Habitat is a series of aquariums located beneath the lobby of the Royal Towers and in outdoor pools.  it exhibits over 50,000 marine animals from over 200 species. At Dolphin Cay visitors can interact with Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins.

Lionfish in The Dig

Stingrays in the Marine Habitat Pools

Aquapark Waterfalls and Rapids

Philatelic Photograph: Hog Island Lighthouse, Paradise Island, Bahamas

Hog Island Lighthouse

GPS: N 25° 05.224 W 077° 21.107

Short Description:

Hog Island Lighthouse is familiar sight to anyone entering or leaving Nassau by ship It is located on the west end of Paradise (Hog) Island.

Long Description:

Lighthouse and Atlantis

Thousands of people each day photograph this lighthouse as their cruise ship approaches or leaves Nassau. It's located in Nassau Harbor north of New Providence Island on the western end of Paradise Island. At one time Paradise Island was called Hog Island. The name was changed to make it more appealing to tourist. The Atlantis Hotel and Casino now occupies the eastern end of the island. The lighthouse can also be photographed from land.

Technical Data for Hog Island Lighthouse

Nearest Town or City: Nassau Bahamas
Location: Entrance to Nassau Harbor.
Description Tower: White conical tower.
Operational: Yes
Date Established: 1817
Current Use: Active aid to navigation.
Open To Public: No.
Characteristic Range: Flashing red visible for 13 nautical miles.
Date Automated: 1958
Alternate Name1: Paradise Island Lighthouse
Alternate Name2: Nassau Harbor Lighthouse
Country: Bahamas

The stamp was issued in 2004 as part of a set of five stamps depicting lighthouses of the Bahamas

Philatelic Photograph: Great Stirrup Cay Lighthouse - Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Great Stirrup Cay Lighthouse

GPS: N 25° 49.407 W 077° 54.052

Short Description: 

The lighthouse on Great Stirrup Cay is located on the northeast end of the island.

Long Description:

Great Stirrup Cay is one of the Berry Islands in the central northern part of the Bahamas. This 250 acre island was once owned by the Belcher Oil Company. The western part was purchased and developed by the Norwegian Cruse Lines and is used as a private port-of-call.

The lighthouse is located on the eastern end can easily be reached by a wide gravel road that extends from the western developed area to the eastern end of the island. The lighthouse is now unmanned and powered by solar panels. The area around the lighthouse is overgrown by dense vegetation. A narrow path through the vegetation leads from the road to the lighthouse.

The white painted brick lighthouse was constructed in 1863. It is 56' above the Atlantic Ocean and signals with two white flashes every 20 seconds.

The stamp was issued in 2004 as part of a set of five stamps depicting lighthouses of the Bahamas.