Nassau Paradise Island, The Islands Of The Bahamas

Pirates of the Caribbean; The Real Deal

Captain Woodes Rogers was appointed Royal Governor of the Bahamas in 1717. Before his duty as governor, Rogers was a privateer from England sent on expeditions in order to harass Spanish colonies throughout the coast of the Atlantic. The expedition proved successful as he brought many valuables back to England. Soon, his focus remained on suppressing pirates from the Caribbean Seas.

With all monetary and military resources from England at his disposal, Captain Woodes Rogers also had a powerful ally; the king’s pardon. Pirates were fully pardoned if they would agree to cease pirate activity immediately. In the end, those who chose amnesty would later join Rogers in confronting pirates not quick to surrender. This would ultimately end with sentencing and hanging. Eventually, Rogers was able to establish a well-organized government and eventually expel all pirates from Nassau.

The British Colonial Hilton was built on the site of Old Fort Nassau (1695), once the home of the notorious pirate, Blackbeard. After the British Crown drove Blackbeard out, Woodes Rogers, was appointed Governor. Now, his life-like, swashbuckling image with sword drawn and cloak swirling around him stands at the front of the hotel as a vivid reminder of Nassau's turbulent past.

Although it no longer caters to swashbuckling pirates, the British Colonial Hilton still offers a taste of the Island’s rich Bahamian history but with a contemporary flair. The hotel features more than 291 rooms and suites that still showcase a deep colonial past. Speaking of past, did we mention the British Colonial Hilton made history as a location for two James Bond movies? You might want to ask about the 007 Suite.

Learn more fun facts about Nassau Paradise Island