Museums on New Providence Island in The Bahamas
A vacation destination that attracts visitors from all over the world, the Bahamas offers a great deal more than the obvious pleasures associated with its pristine white sand beaches that border glistening, beautiful ocean waters underneath a wide open sky. The Bahamas also offer a wide variety of cultural pursuits. New Providence Island boasts numerous museums, housing a wide variety of exhibits, sure to stimulate the mind and imagination of all who visit.
The Pirates of Nassau Museum, located at Marlborough and George Streets in Nassau on New Providence Island of the Bahamas, offers a fascinating combination of history and entertainment. Open Monday through Saturday, from 9am to 6pm, and Sundays from 9am until noon, this museum charges an admission fee of $12 for adults, and $6 for children ages 3 to 18. With each paid adult admission, however, one child under 12 enters for free, as do children under 3. Beautiful, high tech displays that operate with motion detectors offer exciting insight into the pirate life that is a real part of the history of the area. Six million dollars was spent in the museum’s creation, and the result is fun, educational and simply remarkable. A perfect family outing, children really have a great time here.
The Pompey Museum of Slavery And Emancipation, found at Bay and George Streets at the Vendue House, is another wonderful place to visit. The museum site was once a place where slave auctions were held, and inside there are many historical exhibits from the era featuring artifacts and documents. On the second floor of the museum, there are art exhibits, with the work of the Bahamian artist Amos Ferguson holding a position of prominence. Open Monday through Friday from 10am to 4:30pm, and for shortened hours every other Saturday, this museum charges a nominal fee of only $1 for people 12 years of age and older. Those under that age are charged a mere 50 cents. A great bargain and an even better collection of art and artifacts.
The Nassau Public Library and Museum, located on Shirley Street, offers a fascinating look back into the history of the Bahamas and New Providence Island. The building itself has historical merit. It was built in the last years of the 18th century and served then as a jail and workhouse, making it the island’s second prison. Towards the end of the 19th century, the building became the island’s first library. The hours are from 10am to 8pm on Monday through Thursday. On Friday, the hours are from 10am to 5pm and on Saturday, the hours are from 10am to 4pm.
There are several more museums scattered throughout New Providence Island. Among the most interesting are the Junkanoo Expo, which displays costumes and floats from the yearly parade by the same name, the Atlantis Museum, which is devoted to natural history, and the Roselawn Museum, which contains a variety of artifacts, often gleaned from the sea, such as chunks of shipwrecked ships.
New Providence Island of the Bahamas is just full of pleasant surprises. One of the most interesting of these surprises is the degree to which the rich the history of this island is revered and preserved. It creates a well-rounded vacation experience by offering something out of the ordinary.