Villa Doyle

The NAGB is housed in Villa Doyle, a mansion built in the 1860s as the home of one of The Bahamas’ Chief Justices, Sir William Henry Doyle. Expanded in the 1920s, it became one of Nassau’s most distinguished stately homes, perched on a rise at the top of West Street with sweeping verandahs that commanded views of both the city and the sea.

By the modern era, Villa Doyle had fallen into disrepair, with some calling for its demolition as a way to erase our colonial past. Instead, historian and founding chairman Dr Gail Saunders led a campaign to preserve the building—not as a relic, but as a space where history could be examined, questioned, and reinterpreted. 

Restoration efforts began in the 1990s and took nearly seven years to complete. The project was overseen by architect Anthony Jervis, civil engineer George Cox, and a special NAGB consultation committee, chaired by Dr Saunders. Their dedication transformed Villa Doyle from a crumbling structure into the vibrant museum it is today.