Cherokee Sound is a place whose history and landscape are closely connected to fishing. Fishing and boatbuilding traditions have endured here for more than two centuries. Today, this connection can be viewed from several angles: the settlement’s history dates back to the Loyalists of the late 18th century, a monument commemorates the fishing history of later generations, and East Abaco Creeks National Park puts the protection of coastal habitats at its center. This gives Cherokee a profile as a place to stay that brings together cultural history and nature.

Fishing and Settlement History

Cherokee Sound was founded in the 1790s by Loyalists from the Carolinas. They came via Florida in search of refuge after the American Revolution. The first Methodist church was built there in 1816.

The Monument to the Fishermen

In October 1988, the community of Cherokee Sound erected The Abacos Monument To Fishermen. It commemorates the fishermen of Cherokee and their locally made fishing boats. Its historical span runs from the mid-19th century to the late 1950s; among the details recorded are the names of fishermen who drowned and the fishing boats that operated during this century. The focus of local remembrance is therefore not only on the boats but also on the people behind the fishing industry. The time span connects several generations of an activity that also helps shape the place’s cultural identity.

Coastal Landscape and the Long Dock

East Abaco Creeks National Park includes Cherokee Sound. Its purpose is to preserve valuable coastal habitats in order to protect fishing and overall environmental health. Conservation and fishing are thus connected: the park focuses its protection on coastal areas and explicitly includes the preservation of fishing as part of its purpose. Fishing is permitted in the areas covered by East Abaco Creeks National Park—including Cherokee Sound—in accordance with applicable laws.

Another landmark structure is the Cherokee Long Dock: the wooden dock is 770 feet long. According to its on-site inscription, it is considered the longest wooden dock in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The shallow waters around Cherokee Sound made a long dock necessary. The dock can therefore be understood both in terms of its unusual length and the nature of the waters: the measurement describes the structure, while the shallow waters explain the historical need for a long dock.

The natural harbor and surrounding shallow-water areas have also made Cherokee Sound a destination for bonefishing enthusiasts. Those interested in this type of fishing can view the place from a different perspective than when looking at the monument: the focus here is on fishing today, while the monument recalls the history of fishing. This distinction is useful when choosing Cherokee as a place to stay: bonefishing describes a current interest, whereas the monument commemorates people, boats, and fishing history.

For the broader travel overview: Central Abaco.