Queen's Staircase
Landmark in Nassau, The Bahamas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Queen's Staircase (known locally as the 66 steps) is a walkway of 65 steps (originally 66) in Nassau, the capital city of The Bahamas. It was carved out of solid limestone by 600 slaves between 1793 and 1794 to create a direct route from Fort Fincastle to Nassau. It was later named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the 19th century, and is now a popular landmark of Nassau.
Queen's Staircase | |
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| Staircase | |
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| Construction | 1793–1794 |
| Opening date | 1794 |
| Steps | 65 (originally 66) |
| Height | 102 ft (31 m) |
| Surface | Limestone |
| Dedicated to | Queen Victoria |
 Interactive map of Queen's Staircase | |
| Coordinates: 25°04′23.3″N 77°20′15.6″W | |
Description
The Queen's Staircase is located within the Fort Fincastle Historic Complex and leads to Fort Fincastle itself, which is situated partially on Bennet's Hill, the highest point of Nassau.[1] Bennet's Hill is located in Downtown Nassau, next to Princess Margaret Hospital and the Grosvenor campus of the University of The Bahamas.[2] The Queen's Staircase has a total rise of 102 feet (31 m) and a step-count of 65 (formerly 66). It has water cascading alongside its steps to a pool below. The base of the stairs leads to a walkway that goes between high stone walls, tropical plants and tropical trees.[3]
History
A group of 600 slaves began construction in 1793 on a staircase and road to connect Fort Fincastle – completed that same year – to Nassau below. With limited tools, the slaves were forced to carve into solid limestone to fabricate the stairs and road.[1] The staircase was later named in the 19th century in honour of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, who ended slavery in the British Empire.[4][5] Although tour guides often claim that the number of steps correspond with the number of years Queen Victoria ruled, this is untrue; Queen Victoria reigned for a little under 64 years, from 1837 to 1901.[3][6][7]