St. Thomas History
The discovery of St Thomas can be credited to Christopher Columbus when he proceeded to his second journey way back in 1493. The first people who were already in the island were the Arawak and Carib Indians. It was an island that served as home to many pirates long before the Europeans built their colonies all over. The deep and all natural harbor right at Charlotte Amalie was the favorite hangout place of many pirates who always had the intentions of robbing the Spanish and their ships plus gold coins.
The Danish people were the ones who first attempted to colonize the island by 1666. They wanted to parcel the island to be ready for agriculture. The entire island’s economy was supported and supplemented by the numerous plantations around. But for long, it was only the Fort that they were able to construct. Even when the pirate times faded, Charlotte Amalie was maintained to become a trading port.
It was the late 1800s up to the early 1900s that St Thomas had its most quiet years. It faces a lot of natural disasters through time which included several hurricanes, tidal wave, and fires. The entire capital went through major rebuilding and now it stands as an amazing destination for many tourists.
Emancipation Park
Situated on Tolbod Gade is Emancipation Park. The park was named in commemoration of the July 3rd, 1848 emancipation of slaves in the Danish West Indies. Several of St. Thomas’ official ceremonies are held in the park, in addition to a number of local events. Every U.S. state and territory has a copy of the [...]
Legislature Building
Located right on the harbor, is really a pretty green, 2 story structure. It’s the Legislature Building and houses the offices of Virgin Islands’ legislators and their staff. The original constructing was a wooden structure built in 1828 as barracks for Danish police. The current building is a renovation and was completed in 1874. The [...]
Fort Christian
Fort Christian, St. Thomas Historical Sights. This Danish constructed fort, named after King Christian V, is the oldest standing structure inside the Virgin Islands. The bright red fort was constructed to defend the Danish settlement and harbor from European attackers. Construction of this National Historic Landmark began in 1666 and ended in 1680. From the [...]
99 Steps
These steps have been built within the mid 1700s, by the Danes, who discovered streets of steps to be the simplest way to climb up and down the high hills of Charlotte Amalie. Some historians have said this stairway, together with several others that cut through almost all of the hills rising from the Charlotte [...]
St. Peter Greathouse & Botanical Gardens
This estate consists of 11 acres set at the foot of volcanic peaks on the northern rim of the island. The grounds are laced with self-guided nature walks which will acquaint you with some 200 varieties of West Indian plants and trees, which include an umbrella plant from Madagascar. From a panoramic deck inside gardens, [...]
Mahogany Run Golf Course
There is absolutely nothing like teeing off as part of a relaxing getaway, and the George and Tom Fazio-designed Mahogany Run Golf Course offers one of the finest greens around. The 6,022-yard, par-70 course, course offers 18 challenging holes culminating in the breathtaking “Devil’s Triangle,” the world-renowned signature holes on the Atlantic Ocean. Do not [...]
St. Thomas Tourist Tips
While you’re in St. Thomas enjoying your vacation, I recommend you see the defense structures such as forts, canons and watchtowers scattered all over the city. There are local museums where you can learn about the history of the town. See the 18th century planning of the city while exercising at the 99 steps. Or [...]