Abaco's first wave of settlement came in 1783 when Loyalist emigrants from New York, the Carolinas and Florida came to stay after the American Revolutionary War. Some original settlers were black Americans who arrived near present-day Treasure Cay, founding the village of Carleton.

The Loyalists, about two thousand in all, eventually colonized all the areas around Marsh Harbour, bringing with them their New England architecture of clapboard houses, steeply pitched roofs, and tiny gardens surrounded by picket fences. This Abaco style survives today in the island's bright plantings of oleander, hibiscus and bougainvillea, its complex and narrow streets, and its grand old tradition of boat-building.

Bahamas:
guide, hotels

Festivals and holidays calendar

Grand Bahama

Grand Bahama
 Arrival
 Brief  history
 Information
 Getting around
 Boat excursions
  Diving & snorkeling
 Other outdoor
activities
  
Exploring Grand  
 Bahama
 Freeport / Lucaya

Long Island
 Long Island
 Arrival and transport
 Getting around
  Eating

New Providence
 New Providence &
 Paradise Island
 Arrival, transport.
 Practicalities


Exploring New   
Providence
  Nassau
 Nassau
 Getting around
  Eating & drinking
 Nightlife
 Diving, aquatic
sports

Explore Nassau
 Cable Beach
 Hillside area & west
 Historic Nassau

Exploring the Bahamas

The Abacos

 Abacos & Loyalist
 Cays
 History of Abaco
 Getting around
 Abaco
 Abaco Nat'l Park
 Little Abaco
 Loyalist Cays

 Marsh Harbour
 Marsh Harbour
 The town    
   Eating & drinking

Harbour Island
Harbour Island


Hotels
 

Bahamas information:
guide, hotels, airfares

Google maps

Fodor's Caribbean port of call 2006

Exumas
Exumas
Arrival & information
Sea Kayaking
Great Exumas &
Little Exumas
Getting around
Exumas
Rental cars,    
bicycles, scooters
  Boat travel
  Eating
Outdoor activities
Northern Exumas 

Paradise Island
 Paradise Island
 Around the Island
  Eating and drinking
Nightlife
Outdoors

Eleuthera  
 Eleuthera
 Eleuthera Island
 Arrival & information
Eating

Treasure Cay 
Treasure Cay  
General information 
Fishing, diving, golf,
tours,  tennis
        

Alice Town
 Alice Town activities,
  restaurants