Historic Sites on St. Croix

On St. Croix, history never repeats itself. Seven different flags have flown since Columbus' 1493 landing in Salt River. Those of us who studied American history back in the states know Columbus backwards and forwards, and yet, few of us ever learned that he was perhaps the first European tourist to visit our "American Paradise".....or, that the first settlers of St. Croix were the Igneri, Taino, and Carib Indians, predating Columbus' visit by centuries.

St. Croix is a must for history buffs. Explore our forts, ruins, museums and national parks.

Christiansted National Historic District
Christiansted
340-773-1460
NPS Official Site

This 7 acre area is mostly on the Christiansted waterfront and was established as a National Historic Site in 1952. The five historical structures exist on the site are the Fort Christiansvaern, the Scale House, Danish Custom House, Steeple Building, and the Danish West Indie & Guniea Company Warehouse. The goal of this site is to preserve the historic structure and illustrate the Danish influence here between 1733 and 1917. Fort Christiansvaern and the surrounding buildings are open Monday through Friday 8-5 and Saturday from 9-5. An informative walking tour is available at the visitor center at the park headquarters. Admission is $3 per person.

Fort Frederik
Frederiksted
340-772-2021

On the west side of the island lies Fort Frederik, which was built in the 18th century out of necessity by the Danish government to protect St. Croix against invasion of European powers, smugglers and pirates! It gained its status as a National Landmark because of the role it played in two events that eventually led to the dissolution of salvery in the Virgin Islands in 1848. In 1848, Emancipation Revolt ended slavery in the Danish West Indies, but inaugurated a 30-year period of serfdom based on contract labor that ensured continuing control by plantation owners. Then in 1878, escalating tensions erupted into the Labor Riot and Fireburn, which ended the contract labor system.

Fort Frederik is open Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm and Saturday 1:00pm to 4:00pm and admission is free.

Salt River Bay National Historical Park
Also known as Columbus Landing
Salt River
340-773-3663
NPS Official Site

Not only is Salt River important historically, it is also a protected ecological preserve. Columbus landed at this spot in America's Paradise in 1493, but encountered the not-so-friendly Carib Indian tribe. This led to the first documented conflict between Europeans and Native Americans. Some believe that Columbus never set foot on land, sending out a search party to explore the new land. Either way- we are proud of this beautiful area, which is recognized as a National Landmark.

Salt River is no longer a fresh water supply, but is now a tropical ecosystem that supports threatened and endangered species. The NPS works jointly with the government to manage this 1,015 acre park, which holds some of the largest mangrove forests in the Virgin Islands as well as coral reefs and a submarine canyon. Admission is free, but take advantage of the historical and ecological kayak tours.

St. Croix Heritage Trail
340-713-8563
www.StCroixHeritageTrail.com

The St. Croix Heritage Trail is a self guided driving tour of the island's historic sites and natural areas. The trail provides linkages between many of St. Croix's major historic attractions such as Whim Plantation Museum, St. Georges Village Botanical Gardens, and Christiansted Historic Site as well as several plantation ruins. Natural areas and bird watching locales are depicted on the comprehensive map. Plans call for the development of pullovers and overlooks with further interpretation through signs and wayside exhibits. An information packed brochure with a detailed map is available for a small fee at many hotels, car rental agencies and tourist information centers.

see also: land activities, culture

Cruzan Rum Distillery
Frederiksted
340-692-2280
www.CruzanRum.com

Using only the purest natural ingredients and processes, Cruzan Rum has for over 300 years made this best-selling rum at its distillery on St. Croix. For a small fee, guests can have a guided tour of the distillery and see first-hand how rum is made. Tours conclude with complimentary rum drinks at the Pavilion Gift Shop. Tours are available Monday through Friday 9-11:30am and 1-4:15pm.

Tour the rum distillery with us - click here.

see also: land activities

Lawaetz Family Museum
340-772-1539
www.StCroixLandmarks.com

Nestled in a valley northeast of Frederiksted, the Lawaetz Museum's 18-century estate house, with its accompanying ruins and rambling garden, has a charming old-island quality. Converted from a sugar plantation into a dairy ranch in the late 1890's by a Danish farmer and occupied by his descendants for the last 100 years, it houses characteristic and unusual antique furnishings and heirlooms, providing a unique view of Danish West Indian life in the early 1900's.

Read about our day at the Lawaetz Museum

see also: land activities, culture

Whim Plantation Museum
Estate Whim, Frederiksted
340-772-0598
www.StCroixLandmarks.com

Whim Plantation Museum, an authentic Danish sugar estate dating from the 1700's offers and unforgettable glimpse into the days when sugar was King and rum flowed freely on St. Croix. Tour the elegantly furnished great house, explore sugar factory ruins, and roam the grounds. There is also a museum store with a large selection of West Indian crafts, furniture, prints and souvenirs.

see also: culture, land activities, shopping

Columbus lands at Salt River during his second voyage to the Americas. He encounters Igneri, Taino, and Carib Indians. He names the island Santa Cruz (later called St. Croix by the French).

The Igneri, Taino and Carib Indians' resistance to outside settlers causes their population to dwindle. By the early 1600's they had all disappeared.

Dutch, English, and a few French settlers all establish themselves on St. Croix. Battle between the two in 1645 caused political unrest. The Dutch abandon St. Croix for St. Maarten, and the French relocate to Guadeloupe, leaving only the English.

Spanish colonists from Puerto Rico overrun the English settlement. And then the Governor of the French West Indies claimed possession of St. Croix for the French crown.

The Knights of Malta purchased the island from the French King.

Unable to manage the plantations and build a viable economy on St. Croix, the French West India Company bought all islands from the Knights of Malta.

The French King paid the French West India Company's debts and assumed ownership. Unable to turn things around, the French relocate to Santa Domingo. The island is abandoned and becomes a pirates haven.

Danish purchase St. Croix from the French. English planters flock to St. Croix attracted by the inexpensive land. Danish divide the island land into plantations and rebuild a profitable agricultural economy. Sugar and tobacco were sold to Danish merchants. St. Croix became one of the leading ports for trade.

Economic prosperity based on sugar cane, rum production, and the slave trade last until slavery is abolished by the Danish government. St. Croix's slaves would not achieve independence until 1848 when they were emancipated.

British recapture power and held it through the Napoleonic Wars.

Island is reverted back to Denmark - this time suffering drought and severe economic depression.

United States purchases the three islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John, forming the US Virgin Islands.

Agriculture and sugar industries fail.

Start of tourism industry.

Established industries like Hess Oil make homes on St. Croix.

Islanders chose their first governor. Although the US Virgin Islands remain under the United States flag, the islands remain an unincorporated territory with a non-voting delegate to the US House of Representatives. Although taxpaying citizens, residents of the islands have no vote in national elections.