What to do in Bahamas

As any Bahamas vacation guide will tell you, there areBahamas with his mother, Hester Argo, and his two
a wide variety of Bahamas attractions to choosebrothers. The son of reputed French Army officer,
from, should you get tired of splashing around at theEttienne Dillet, Stephen made a great impact on
beach. Among the most popular Bahamas attractionsBahamian History. In 1833, Stephen Dillet became the
are the following:first coloured person in the history of The Bahamas
Casinosto win an election as the representative for the
Isle of Capri, Royal Palm Way, Lucaya, Grand BahamaTown of Nassau, winning seven consecutive
A full range of slot machines and table games,elections.
together with eleven restaurants.1851
BahamasRoyal Oasis, Sunrise Highway & East MallIn 1851, Mr. Dillet was appointed to the post of Post
Drive, Freeport, Grand BahamaMaster General, as well as Inspector of the Police
Plenty of slot machines, table games and restos toForce, at that time the highest ranking position in the
while the day or night away.Force. Mr. Stephen Dillet was also a leading figure in
Atlantis, Casino Drive, Paradise Islandfree masonry, heading what is now known as the
Open 24 hours. Slots and tables.Royal Victoria Lodge. He was also a vestryman in
Breezes, West Bay Street, Cable Beach, NewChrist Church Cathedral, a community leader and
Providence Islandsuccessful businessman. At one point, Mr. Dillet also
Slots only, restaurants, disco.served as the Coroner of the Bahamas.
Museums1880
Pompey Museum, Bay Street, Nassau, NewMr. Stephen Dillet died in 1880 at Balcony House. He
Providence Islandbequeathed the property to his wife, Charlotte, and
Artefacts from the slavery era on the first floor withhis daughter, Charlotte Augusta.
an art gallery featuring Bahamian artists on the1899
second floor.In 1899, Stephen Dillet’s widow Charlotte
Balcony House is about 220 years old and is thedied, leaving their daughter, Charlotte Augusta, as the
oldest existing wooden residential building in Thesole owner of the property.
Bahamas. The balcony, from which the House derives1913
its name, overlooks Market St. (formerly PrisonCharlotte Augusta Dillet died in 1913. The house was
Lane), supported by wooden knee braces--awilled to Mr. Alexander Martin Cunningham, friend and
signature architectural feature of the 18th centurynephew-in-law, of Mrs. Charlotte Dillet.
loyalists. The Central Bank of The Bahamas acquired1943
the House in 1985, and later commenced itsMr. Cunningham died in 1943, and the property sold as
restoration. In conjunction with the Department ofwas his wish with the proceeds repatriated to his
National Archives, the property was opened as thesister in London.
Balcony House Museum in 1994.1944
The structure retains most of its original constructionOn 31st January 1944, the property was conveyed
with the foundation made of concrete. The buildingto the Victory Hall Corporation. In the same year it
itself was built from American cedar weatherwas mortgaged for the sum of L1,000 to Bahamas
boarding and the interior sealed with Abaco pine,Investments Ltd.
generally known as Tongue and Groove or T and G.1947
The concrete foundation raises the building off of theSoon after the mortgage settlement in 1947, the
ground, done purposefully to allow for betterproperty was leased to the Hon. William Maxwell
ventilation. Additionally the House’sAitken, Baron of Beaverbrook & Cherkley. The
open-joist ceiling was designed especially to keep theproperty was later sold to Mrs. Marie Josephine
wood construction dry.Bryce, a wealthy American woman and major
The structure boasts a mahogany staircase,shareholder in the chain of A & P foodstores in the
reportedly salvaged from a wrecked ship. A numberU.S.A.
of the original accessory components are still in placeMrs. Bryce hired Grace Richards Inc., a New York
today. Among them, are the original windows, specialinterior design firm, to redesign the interior of the
‘L’ shaped door hinges--designedHouse. By the mid 1970s, Mrs. Bryce had stopped
to prevent doors from leaning orvisiting The Bahamas, leaving the House in care of
‘one-sidedness’, doorknobs,her maid, Mrs. Rosalie Armbrister.
locks and keys. Even the actual hooks, which hoisted1985
the hammock that once adorned the celebratedIn 1985, the Central Bank of The Bahamas acquired
balcony, still remain. On the grounds an old slaveBalcony House and its property.
kitchen stands, with its original fire hearth still in tact.1992
The horse’s stable was remodelled intoThe Ministry of Public Works began restoration of
what is now the Museum’s reception area.the property, with the costs fully underwritten by
Pink in colour with white trimming, there is about 200the Central Bank of The Bahamas.
years of paint on the House, which was originally1994
green. The building’s colonial style woodenThe Central Bank of the Bahamas partnered with the
shutters match the 6-over-6 and 9-over-9-sashDepartment of National Archives, opened Balcony
windows, including the Georgian style windows of theHouse as a The Balcony House Museum in 1994.
master bedroom. The main door, with its openBimini Museum, King’s Highway, Bimini
French style, features transient glass panes--designedFind out how the phrase “the real
especially to capture the sunlight.McCoy” was born. Features artefacts from
Since the late eighteenth century, when it is believedProhibition at the time when Bimini was a major
that Balcony House was first built, the propertysmuggling centre.
changed ownership a number of times. A briefBalcony House, Market Street, Nassau, New
history is chronicled below:Providence Island
1775-1783Perfectly restored by the Central Bank of the
The years 1775 - 1783 saw the coming of a newBahamas, the house was built in the eighteenth
immigrant group to the Bahamas, the loyalists. It wascentury and was inhabited by the
also about this time, we believe, that this structure,Bahamas’ first black government official in
which today we refer to as Balcony House, wasthe nineteenth century.
constructed.Paradise Island, Tunnel Under AquariumOpen Mic Night
1788Club Caribe, Churchill Beach in Mather Town, Freeport,
The 1788 plan of Nassau identifies lot numbers 14 &Grand Bahama
15, with a structure on it; the property, at that time,On the last Saturday of every month, drop by to
was owned by a Mrs. Mary Hardy who lived thereenjoy music and poetry.
with her husband, Dr. William Hardy, and their threeNatural wonders
daughters, Sarah, Cicely and Ann.Underwater Canyons, Chub Cay, Berry Island
1795Spectacular natural phenomena.
A copy of Mrs. Hardy's will, dated 1795, shows thatEel garden, Chub Cay, Berry Island
she left the property to her three daughters whoDive through underwater caverns and tunnels in the
were all married at the time.Canyons, or check out the eels, parrot fish and
1816stingrays in the Eel Garden.
In 1816, the property was sold by auction, byLost City of Atlantis underwater stone formation,
Provost Marshall, Mr. William Baliss, to Mrs. IsabellaBimini
Deane and Mr. Roger Moore who later married andBahamas attractions lend themselves to mythology
took up residence.of all kinds. This one may be the namesake of the
1841massive resort on Paradise Island.
In 1841, however, Mrs. Isabella Deane-Moore and herFlamingo Sanctuary, Wilson Lake, Great Inagua
husband, Roger Moore, sold the house to Mr.See one of the largest flocks of flamingos in the
Stephen Dillet, a native of Haiti who came to theCaribbean on a beautiful nature reserve.