Highlights Of Clifton
There are places you visit in The Bahamas for the view, and then there are places that ask you to slow down, look closer, and feel something deeper. Clifton Heritage National Park is firmly the latter.
Set on the western edge of New Providence, Clifton is not just a park, it is 208 acres of living archives. With over a thousand years of layered history, this protected landscape is where cultures blended, communities were formed, and stories still echo through the land and sea. From pre-Columbian Lucayan life, to the era of enslavement and emancipation, Clifton offers one of the most complete and immersive windows into Bahamian heritage
EXPLORE CLIFTON
Guests can trace the footsteps of the Lucayans, the first people to encounter Columbus, learn about their traditions, and reflect on their tragic fate. Sacred spaces once used for Indigenous spiritual rites, sit quietly, while other areas tell the stories of enslaved and indentured Africans who lived and labored on what was once the largest plantation on New Providence. Many Bahamians today can trace their direct lineage to Clifton, making this not just national history, but deeply personal history.
Sacred space
This particular spot was selected by Bahamian artist Antonius Roberts to create a historic memorial and a statement of his interest in conservation, preservation and transformation of the environment.
Art and education are woven throughout the park, from exhibits exploring the origins of Junkanoo and the use of bush medicine, to the powerful Sacred Space, which honors the strength and resilience of African women across generations. At its heart is the story of Chloe, a woman once enslaved at Clifton, whose life embodies both the brutality of the past and the extraordinary courage required to challenge it. Faced with the reality of bondage and the uncertainty of survival, Chloe made the unimaginable decision to flee, attempting a perilous journey by sea in search of freedom for herself and her children.
Today, Chloe’s memory is preserved at Clifton as a symbol of resistance, sacrifice, and maternal resolve, reminding visitors that freedom in The Bahamas was hard-won, and often paid for in lives as much as in courage. Standing there, visitors are not simply learning history, they are standing inside it.
Clifton Heritage National Park in truth is a reminder that this breathtaking landscape, with its sweeping ocean views and untouched beauty, also bears witness to stories of endurance and humanity. And it is precisely this intersection – where beauty meets memory – that makes Clifton unlike anywhere else in The Bahamas.
WHAT ELSE TO SEE AND DO AT CLIFTON?
BANANA HOLE
The Banana Hole is a naturally occurring cave, that was used by the Lucayans for ceremonial purposes. The spiritual leader would go into the cave and perform ceremonies that allowed them commune with their gods after a tobacco-induced cleansing ritual. This information gleaned from this ritual, is thought to have helped the leader (known as the Cacique) to make important decisions for the community. The site also functioned as an agricultural site, with many of the staple crops of the Lucayans being grown near the cave. In times of hurricanes the community could also take shelter in the cave to protect them from strong winds. It later became known as the Banana Hole because the depth of the soil and well as the richness from bat dropping made it the ideal cultivation spot for growing crops like bananas.
LUCAYAN SANCTUARY
The Lucayan Sanctuary is the new name for the site formerly known as the Banana Hole. This name highlights the significance of this site as a historical and spiritual site tied to the Lucayan community that once inhabited the Clifton Heritage site. In addition to its cultural significance, it is also a stunning example of limestone features that act as striking visual reminder of the natural processes that built our beautiful park and supporting life at this site for over one thousand years
JUNKANOO EXHIBIT
The Junkanoo exhibit features informational panels, authentic objects (or artifacts) and interactive elements that tell the story of the origins of Junkanoo, from it (connection to the Ahanta Warrior King known as John Canoe,) roots in West African military culture, to its transmission via through enslavement, it establishment in Bahamian cultural fixture and it ties other Junkanoo festivals globally.
The plantation at Clifton was established in 1785 by John Wood of Savannah, Georgia, who also built the Great House on the site. During the early 1800s there were as many as 67 enslaved people at Clifton. Discover more about the history during a tour and learn how life was for the residents.
WHO IS CLIFTON FOR?
Clifton Heritage National Park is perfect for history buffs, adventurers of those seeking a uniquely authentic experience. With heritage experts, renowned tour guides, and welcoming staff, Clifton is a place where anyone can experience the real Bahamas and learn about it. Clifton Heritage National Park belongs to the citizens of The Bahamas, and a visit here contributes to the long-term sustainability of the preservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage.
HISTORY
After emancipation, Clifton transitioned into a working farm, but by the 1950s, much of its land returned to natural coppice growth. Recognizing its cultural and ecological value, the government acquired Clifton in 2005 to create The Bahamas’ first national heritage park preserving its plantation ruins, diverse landscape, and centuries of human history for future generations.
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