Nassau Public Library & Museum
Nassau Public Library & Museum
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This museum on the history of Nassau features an old jail and exhibits on the Lucayan Indians.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
70 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
32
Average
12
Poor
3
Terrible
5
tammyBaltimore_Md
Baltimore, MD3,932 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
Directly behind the pink Parliament buildings. Small & confined, but rich in Bahama history, and unfortunately I did not go in on this visit, but from past experience, library has/had 2 computers you can use to connect to the internet for $1.
Nice place to stop in for short visit.
Nice place to stop in for short visit.
Written February 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew P
Austin41 contributions
We were just kind of checking out Parliment and noticed this cute little building behind it. As we got closer we noticed it was a library. You really should check it out if you are in the are. Follow the stairs up to the veranda and enjoy a nice view that not many others know about.
Written June 6, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Felicity I
Nassau, New Providence Island104 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
It's an historic place, including being the first jail - you can read all about the history there. I usually sit by a window, enjoy the fresh air, and get completely indulged in a book. I also go here if I need to use the internet downtown. You can have your laptop or use their computers. I have been coming here for decades.
Written May 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda L
Fairfax204 contributions
Nov 2013 • Friends
An old jail that in the late 1800's was turned into a library. If you're just walking around Nassau and want something interesting to see, definitely stop in there to see the exhibits upstairs and the jail cells turned into places to hold books. Plus, if you need to use a computer it only costs one Bahamian dollar for 15 minutes of internet access (definitely cheaper than on the cruise ship). There's a lovely little park right outside with a WWI and II Memorial.
Written November 16, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
indianajones47150
New Albany443 contributions
This unusual octagonal structure was once the Nassau jail. It was built in 1797
Visitors are welcome to take a look at the small cells which are used to house books.
Check out the relics left by the Arawak Indians, the now extinct indigenous people of the Bahamas. They also have a collection of centuries old prints and colonial documents. I couldn't find any treasure maps.
Admission is free.
Visitors are welcome to take a look at the small cells which are used to house books.
Check out the relics left by the Arawak Indians, the now extinct indigenous people of the Bahamas. They also have a collection of centuries old prints and colonial documents. I couldn't find any treasure maps.
Admission is free.
Written January 7, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim L
Matthews, NC203 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
Step back into time, Nassau times - past and present - displayed on the three floors of this ancient landmark.
Collections include history of this of this old pirate town, bootlegger haven during Prohibiton - when $1,000 bills were as common a $10's these days. Sparse exhibits date back to Arawak (Indian) times. Sit in window seats, read a book, watch horse-drawn Surreys clip-clop pas....just like in older days. Handy retreat from buslling Bay Street crowds.
Collections include history of this of this old pirate town, bootlegger haven during Prohibiton - when $1,000 bills were as common a $10's these days. Sparse exhibits date back to Arawak (Indian) times. Sit in window seats, read a book, watch horse-drawn Surreys clip-clop pas....just like in older days. Handy retreat from buslling Bay Street crowds.
Written July 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Winnie W
Toronto, Canada79 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
It was quite hot and stuffy inside, with very very old books. Not much room to maneveur. Not really much to see.
Written November 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
projectx633
Bridgeport, TX461 contributions
Sep 2016 • Friends
We popped our heads in this tiny library and it was amazing. The structure was once a colonial jail, dating back to 1797, when it became the first building in Parliament Square. Per Wikipedia, "The building is said to have been inspired by the Old Powder Magazine in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was converted into a library in 1873. The small prison cells which once housed prisoners now contain old colonial documents, newspapers, books, charts, Arawak artifacts, and historic prints. Since its conversion in 1837 from a hectic prison environment to that of a tranquil place of study, the library has seen an extensive increase in a variety of services, numerous technological advancements, vast expansion in study material, and many added special features all fully accessible to the general public."
Written September 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OneHappyCouple2007
Las Vegas441 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
Found this great little library/museum while learning about the Garden of Remembrance. Our walking tour guide Tony told us how this use to be the prison for Nassau and how it now had been turned into a a public library.
With me being a Corrections Lieutenant, I couldn't help but want to go inside and see how the cells were turned into rooms filled with books. Upon seeing the rooms, I could only imagine how many prisoners were in each cell.
Back to the library...while inside, you could feel and see the history in this place. As my wife and I were looking through the books we stumbled upon an old Psalms of David book. What a beautiful work of art and reverence to God.
After checking out more rooms and walking on the observation deck, we headed back down to rejoin our walking tour guide. What an awesome little museum!
With me being a Corrections Lieutenant, I couldn't help but want to go inside and see how the cells were turned into rooms filled with books. Upon seeing the rooms, I could only imagine how many prisoners were in each cell.
Back to the library...while inside, you could feel and see the history in this place. As my wife and I were looking through the books we stumbled upon an old Psalms of David book. What a beautiful work of art and reverence to God.
After checking out more rooms and walking on the observation deck, we headed back down to rejoin our walking tour guide. What an awesome little museum!
Written July 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie Ann C
Greensboro, NC66 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
This tiny library is worth a quick visit to see an interesting historical building. It was originally a prison which has been converted to a library. The small cells are now used a cozy alcoves for the books. There are only a few cells on the first and second floors. Up the creaky steps to the top floor, there is a porch with 360 degree views. It was also eye-opening for my daughter to see how sparse the Nassau library is compared to our libraries on home.
Written July 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does anyone know if the Nassau Public Library in Parliament square is back open? It closed during COVID, but I cannot find anything that says it ever reopened. We stopped by there a year ago, but it was locked up tight and it looked like it had been for some time.
Written September 4, 2023
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