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St. Maarten St. Thomas St. John Nassau, Bahamas Day at Sea Home |
Nassau Bahamas
Spanish conquistadors, having plundered South and Central America, had their treasure overtaken by pirates as they came through the islands on their way home to Europe. Each island of the Bahamas has its own story that contributes to the fabric of the islands' history. Pinder's Point was four separate towns, each named after a white settler who owned the land. Freed slaves took over the lands and passed them on to their descendants, and the four communities grew into each other. Williams Town was also founded by a freed slave, and some of his descendants still live there. Freetown, a village given its name because it was the first place that slaves were freed in 1834, is now just a cemetery and some rubble. The people of the Bahamas celebrate their colorful history in many ways including exhibits, guided tours, and annual festivals. Every year the island receives thousands of visitors that come from around the world to explore and learn about the people and events that helped shape the islands of the Bahamas into the fascinating place they call home. University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications |
In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the San Salvador. He sailed through the narrow Crooked Island Passage down the coast side of the islands.
This major shipping route became so popular that it also attracted pirates and buccaneers, who found the shallow waters and numerous sandbars to be an ideal setting for attacking their enemies as they tried to come into the island.