St.Croix - Lesser Antilles - Caribbean Islands
Saint Croix - is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States. It is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, being 28 by 7 miles (45 by 11 km), with an area of 83 sq. mi. (215 sq. km). The highest point on the island, Mount Eagle, is 1,165 ft. (355 m) high. Most of the east end is quite hilly and steep, as is the north side from Christiansted west. From the north side hills a fairly even plain slopes down to the south coast: this was the prime sugar land on the island. The east end of the island is a dry desert range with mostly rocky formations and cactus while the west end has is very tropical with lush vegetation and palm trees, giving the island a unique flair for multiple ecosystems in a small area. English is the most common language. Spanish is spoken by the large Puerto Rican and smaller Dominican Republic populations, and French Creole is spoken by the large St. Lucian and Dominica populations. The island (along with St. Thomas and St. Johns) were bought by the USA from Denmark in 1917.
1. Fort Christiansvaern - (meaning "Christian defense"), originally built in 1738 by the Danish to protect the harbor. The Danes were a latecomer in the European race for colonies and profits in the New World, Denmark occupied the uninhabited Caribbean islands of St. Thomas (1671) and St. John (1717). Desiring land more suitable for sugar cultivation, the Danes purchased St. Croix from France in 1733. The first Danish settlement on St. Croix, situated on the island’s northeast coast, was chosen because of the existence of an adequate harbor for shipping. At that site, the Danes found and built upon the ruins of a French village called Bassin, (“the harbor”) which dated from 1665. The new town, named Christiansted (“Christian’s Place”) in honor of King Christian VI of Denmark-Norway. This fort is a National Historical Site (1952).
2. Old Danish Customs House - After merchants passed through the scale house on the Christiansted waterfront, then their next stop was the custom house to pay taxes. This building dates back to 1734 when it was a single story bookkeeper’s residence.
3. Government House - built in 1830, this home is a beautiful example of Danish colonial architecture, which illustrates the grandeur of Danish buildings from the period when "sugar was king" in the West Indies.
4. Steeple Museum - was once the Lord God of Sabaoth Church. It was built in the early 1750's by the Danish West India and Guinea Company. The church was consecrated in 1753. The baroque tower and cupola were added 40 years later. The Steeple Building was St. Croix’s first Lutheran Church. The museum contains displays that portray the history of St. Croix and plantation life.
5. Buck Island - small, uninhabited, 176 acre island about 1.5 mi./2.4 km north of the northeast coast of Saint Croix. It 1961 it became a U.S. National Monument (1961), which is administered by the National Park Service. Most of the monument is underwater, with its 4,554-acre (7.1 sq. mi.) reef.
6. Point Udall - the easternmost point on the island, and also the easternmost point in the United States.
7. Whim Plantation - an original early 18th century plantation on 12 acres. The property is a museum that consists of a stately greathouse, a fully restored windmill and sugar factory ruins.
8. Fort Frederik - was constructed in the mid-18th century by the Danish government to protect its interests in the Caribbean and to defend the western end of Saint Croix against incursion from other European powers and from pirate raids and attacks from rival imperialist nations. It was named after Frederick V of Denmark, who purchased the Danish West Indies in 1754.
Read More1. Fort Christiansvaern - (meaning "Christian defense"), originally built in 1738 by the Danish to protect the harbor. The Danes were a latecomer in the European race for colonies and profits in the New World, Denmark occupied the uninhabited Caribbean islands of St. Thomas (1671) and St. John (1717). Desiring land more suitable for sugar cultivation, the Danes purchased St. Croix from France in 1733. The first Danish settlement on St. Croix, situated on the island’s northeast coast, was chosen because of the existence of an adequate harbor for shipping. At that site, the Danes found and built upon the ruins of a French village called Bassin, (“the harbor”) which dated from 1665. The new town, named Christiansted (“Christian’s Place”) in honor of King Christian VI of Denmark-Norway. This fort is a National Historical Site (1952).
2. Old Danish Customs House - After merchants passed through the scale house on the Christiansted waterfront, then their next stop was the custom house to pay taxes. This building dates back to 1734 when it was a single story bookkeeper’s residence.
3. Government House - built in 1830, this home is a beautiful example of Danish colonial architecture, which illustrates the grandeur of Danish buildings from the period when "sugar was king" in the West Indies.
4. Steeple Museum - was once the Lord God of Sabaoth Church. It was built in the early 1750's by the Danish West India and Guinea Company. The church was consecrated in 1753. The baroque tower and cupola were added 40 years later. The Steeple Building was St. Croix’s first Lutheran Church. The museum contains displays that portray the history of St. Croix and plantation life.
5. Buck Island - small, uninhabited, 176 acre island about 1.5 mi./2.4 km north of the northeast coast of Saint Croix. It 1961 it became a U.S. National Monument (1961), which is administered by the National Park Service. Most of the monument is underwater, with its 4,554-acre (7.1 sq. mi.) reef.
6. Point Udall - the easternmost point on the island, and also the easternmost point in the United States.
7. Whim Plantation - an original early 18th century plantation on 12 acres. The property is a museum that consists of a stately greathouse, a fully restored windmill and sugar factory ruins.
8. Fort Frederik - was constructed in the mid-18th century by the Danish government to protect its interests in the Caribbean and to defend the western end of Saint Croix against incursion from other European powers and from pirate raids and attacks from rival imperialist nations. It was named after Frederick V of Denmark, who purchased the Danish West Indies in 1754.
Fort Christiansvaern (meaning christian defense) - occupied and strengthened by the Danish in 1738 (but the earthen structure was destroyed by a hurricane), and replaced in 1749 by this masonry fort (measuring 210 by 225 ft. - 64 by 69 m), to protect the harbor at the town of Christiansted - which from 1734 until 1803, was part of the infamous "Triangular Trade" - where slaves were acquired for cheap manufactured goods at slaving forts, along the Guinea Coast of West Africa, and shipped to the West Indies - here they were auctioned off, and the ships cargoes replenished with local exports bound for Europe and North America.
