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Queen's Staircase (Nassau)

Coordinates: 25°04′23.3″N 77°20′15.6″W / 25.073139°N 77.337667°W / 25.073139; -77.337667
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Queen’s Staircase - Nassau
Stairs
Queen’s Staircase - Nassau
Queen’s Staircase - Nassau
Construction1793-1794
Opening date1794
Steps66
Surfacelimestone
Dedicated toQueen Victoria
Coordinates: 25°04′23.3″N 77°20′15.6″W / 25.073139°N 77.337667°W / 25.073139; -77.337667

The Queen's Staircase is a walkway of 66 steps in Nassau, the capital city of The Bahamas. It was carved out of solid limestone rock by 600 slaves between 1793 and 1794 to create an escape route from the fort above[1] and is a major landmark of Nassau. The stairs are located at Fort Fincastle Historic Complex near Bennet's Hill in Downtown Nassau next to Princess Margaret Hospital and Grosvenor Campus of the University of the Bahamas.[2]

The staircase has water cascading to a pool below, along the side over series of steps. At the bottom a walkway goes between high stone walls, tropical plants and trees.[3]

History

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In the 19th century the steps were later named in honor of Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,[4][5] who ended slavery in the British Empire.[6] Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901, almost 64 years.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Koster-Walton, Chelle (18 October 2010). Explorer's Guide Bahamas: A Great Destination. The Countryman Press. p. 55. ISBN 9781581578539.
  2. ^ Stark, James Henry (1891). Stark's History and Guide to the Bahama Islands. James H. Stark. p. 111.
  3. ^ Permenter, Paris; Bigley, John (15 April 2011). Nassau & the Best of the Bahamas. Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 125. ISBN 9781588431981.
  4. ^ "Queen's Staircase". Bahamas.org. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Queen's Staircase Nassau Bahamas". Bahamas Go. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Queen's Staircase". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Victoria — queen of United Kingdom". Britannica. Retrieved 2023-04-04.