Fort Montagu

Fort Montagu is the oldest surviving fort on New Providence, built in 1741 to a design by the military engineer Peter Henry Bruce, guarding the eastern entrance to Nassau harbour where a shallow bar allows only small vessels through. It is compact, a single squat structure of local limestone with a handful of cannon on the platform and a couple of rooms beneath. Its one moment came in 1776, when it was briefly occupied during a raid that was among the first operations mounted by the newly formed American navy, and it was taken without a fight. It sits in a small park beside a public beach where Nassau swims.

History

When Governor John Tinker arrived in 1741 he found only one fort on the island, Fort Nassau, and had the military engineer Peter Henry Bruce build a second at its eastern end to guard against Spanish attack. The limestone fort was built in 1741 and 1742 and at first carried 23 cannon and more than 95 barrels of gunpowder (Wikipedia, Fort Montagu).

What's there

• The 1741 fort - the oldest on the island, in local limestone.
• The gun platform - cannon facing the eastern harbour entrance.
• Montagu beach - the public beach beside it, used by Nassau.
• The harbour bar - the shallow entrance the fort was built to watch.

When to go

December to May is the dry season. Any time of day works; the fort is small and open, with no ticket or hours. Early morning brings Nassau swimmers to the beach beside it, which is a good time to see the place as locals use it.

Things to know

It is very small and takes twenty minutes; there is no museum, no interpretation beyond a plaque and no staff. Maintenance is minimal. It is worth combining with the beach beside it rather than making a special trip. Unofficial guides sometimes attach themselves to visitors.

Nearby

Montagu beach is alongside; downtown Nassau is fifteen minutes west.

Key facts