Climbing the Queen’s Staircase in Nassau (The Bahamas)
When looking up things to do in Nassau, one of the suggestions that always comes at the top of the list is the Queen’s Staircase. I know what you’re thinking – what’s so special about a set of stairs? To be honest, that was my reaction as well when I saw this staircase popping up on every post I read about The Bahamas. Turns out, the Queen’s Staircase is the most visited landmark on New Providence island. Its a significant site, owing to its historic importance and being a symbol of those who suffered as slaves during British colonisation. A visit won’t take up much of your time, but its worth stopping by while exploring Nassau. In this post, I’ll tell you more about the history so that you can fully grasp the site’s notability.
- While the Queen’s Staircase is a quick stop on your trip to Nassau, you can read more about what to do on your Bahamas vacation in my 3 day itinerary post HERE.
Queen’s Staircase – The Basics:
- Where? Elizabeth Avenue, Nassau.
- When? The Staircase is open 24 hours daily.
- How much? Admission is free.
- How to get there: The Queen’s Staircase is a short walk from the heart of downtown Nassau and the main port. From the main cruise terminal, its a 15 minute walk along Elisabeth Avenue (past the hospital) to the base of the staircase. Alternatively, walking up East Street onto Prison Lane and Greenwich Street will have you up the top in the same amount of time.
- Website: https://queensstaircase.com/
What is the Queen’s Staircase?
The Queen’s Staircase is quite literally a set of stairs – 66 to be exact. Or 65, depending on who is doing the counting. Carved out of limestone, the stairs connect the end of Elisabeth Street to the top of Bennet’s Hill, the highest point on New Providence Island. Originally famous for its 66 steps, a refurbishment saw the bottom step paved over, though some will claim that the ground level still constitutes a step on its own!
About the Queen’s Staircase
So we’ve established that its a set of stairs. Why are we going here again? Well, the Staircase dates back to the 18th Century, and was constructed to provide easy access to Fort Fincastle at the top. This was seen as particularly important in the event of an attack on the newly built Fort. Commissioned by Lord Dunmore, then Governor of The Bahamas, over 600 slaves worked on the Stairs between 1793 and 1794. As mentioned, they carved the Stairs out of the limestone terrain, but what makes this all the more remarkable was the way in which it was carried out – entirely by hand tools. The enslaved labourers weren’t even allowed pickaxes due to fears that arming them could lead to an insurrection against their oppressors. The most they had to work with were chisels and hammers.
The slaves endured extremely dangerous conditions while working on the project. Many lost their lives in the process, and legend has it some bodies were entombed and sealed in a tunnel within the surrounding walls. Despite the horrifying conditions, its truly remarkable that the stairs were completed, and while Fort Fincastle never was attacked, there is no doubting the significance of the project. When Queen Victoria abolished slavery in 1837, the contribution of the enslaved labourers was finally recognised. The Staircase was named after the monarch in recognition of this act.
Visiting the Queen’s Staircase
When you’re visiting the Queen’s Staircase, try to arrive at the bottom. Its a rather beautiful area, surrounded by lush palms, tropical plant life and waterfalls. It actually feels a bit like a secluded rainforest within an alleyway. The number of tourists on a cruise day will definitely impact on the overall serenity, but if you get here early, you’ll be able to fully take it in. Unfortunately when I visited, it was right in the middle of a tropical storm (it was my last day in The Bahamas!). Nassau’s streets have a tendency to flood when it rains, and the lower landing was basically a lake. Naturally, that meant I was heading up the back route to the top of the stairs, and taking my photos from there!
I only spent about 10 minutes at the Staircase. There was a reprieve in the rain when I first arrived, but I was quickly caught in a downpour that had me rushing for cover in nearby Fort Fincastle! At least the stairs served their purpose as quick access to the Fort on that day!
- Want to read more about Fort Fincastle? Check it out HERE.
Other Things to Know
The Queen’s Staircase isn’t particularly onerous to climb. At only 66 (or 65) stairs, assuming you’re able to handle normal steps, you’ll easily get to the top. There’s a few flat landings where you can take a break if you’re really struggling though (or more likely, where you can stop for photos). When you get to the top, its a short walk to Fort Fincastle and the Water Tower on Bennett’s Hill. Along the way you’ll come across local vendors selling their wares.
One thing to have in mind is that you may be approached by someone claiming to be a “volunteer tour guide” when you get to the Staircase. This happened to me, and from what I understand, is more likely to occur if you’re on your own. Without even prompting, they will immediately start telling you about the history of the site, and the rest of Nassau. Its only when they finish their spiel that they’ll ask you to provide a tip. In all honesty, I found the information to be interesting, so I didn’t mind giving a small tip, but just know what you’re getting into if you stick around.
That’s really about all you need to know about the Queen’s Staircase. Its a short stop that should be incorporated into a wider tour of Downtown Nassau on your vacation to The Bahamas. While it is very much a staircase, given the importance, its worth seeing. Its basically become one of those things that you have to do in Nassau. If it was further afield, it wouldn’t be worth checking out on its own, but given its close proximity to Fort Fincastle, you can easily bundle them together and see two historic sites in the one morning!