Parliament Square, Nassau

Parliament Square developed in its present form in the early 19th century, following the arrival of Loyalists from the former American colonies who remained loyal to the British Crown after the American Revolutionary War. Their influence shaped both the layout of the square and the establishment of Nassau as a permanent seat of colonial government.

The square is visually defined by a tight grouping of pastel pink, Georgian-style government buildings arranged around an open civic space. Directly facing the square are the House of Assembly and the Senate of The Bahamas. The Supreme Court of The Bahamas sits slightly behind this frontage, visible beyond the main buildings rather than forming part of the square’s immediate edge.

The House of Assembly serves as the lower chamber of Parliament and is one of the oldest continuously operating legislative bodies in the Western Hemisphere, having first convened in 1729. When sessions are underway, visitors may observe debates from the public gallery, offering a direct view into parliamentary procedure within a historic setting. In front of the Senate Building stands a marble statue of Queen Victoria, erected in 1905.

Beyond the main parliamentary buildings, behind the Supreme Court, lies the Garden of Remembrance. This quieter, enclosed space contains a cenotaph commemorating Bahamian soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars, with engraved plaques listing their names.