St. Thomas Was Inhabited for Thousands of Years Before the Europeans Discovered the Island.

Ever since Columbus discovered the Virgin Islands during his second voyage to the New World in 1493, they have proved to be an irresistible lure for more foreign powers than any other territory: The flags of Spain, France, England, Holland, Denmark and the United States have flown over these islands. The first successful colonization attempt commenced officially in 1666, when the Danes took possession of St. Thomas.

In 1674, four houses/taverns were built along the waterfront to the west of Fort Christian-until then the only structure built on the coastline of the mostly agricultural colony. These taverns were so popular with the early settlers and the rough-and-tumble seamen who called upon St. Thomas that the tiny settlement became known as Taphus, or Beer Hall. The name remained in use until 1691, when the town was renamed Charlotte Amalie (Ah-MAHL-yah) in honor of the wife of King Christian V.

In 1685, the Danes signed a treaty with the Duchy of Brandenburg to allow the Brandenburg American Company to establish a slave-trading post on the Island. During that time, two industries flourished on the island-the slave trade and piracy, which provided the economy with the boost it needed to develop and grow. The early governors had given their approval to the use of St. Thomas as a pirate refuge, knowing that the local merchants would benefit from the open sale of pirate booty on the city streets.

By the 1700s, piracy gave way to legitimate trade, with prosperous merchants replacing buccaneers along the streets of Charlotte Amalie. In 1764, St. Thomas was declared a free port, and by 1800, it was the trading center of the West Indies.0

The next few years saw the island's fortunes decline due to a combination of natural and political troubles. Fires repeatedly burned down the town of Charlotte Amalie in the first two decades of the century. Trade embargoes, rising competition from the beet-sugar trade and the abolition of the slave trade in the early 1800's all had an impact on the Virgin Islands' economy.

At the turn of the century St. Thomas' economy had sank into depression due in part to the end of slavery in 1848 and to the development of steamer ships capable of longer journeys without stopovers. The heyday of the 1800's was over.

Then in 1917, during World War 1, the United States bought the Virgin Islands for a total of $25 million in gold. The main reason for the purchase was to prevent it from becoming a German sub base in the Caribbean.

Prosperity returned to the U.S.V.I. after World War II, primarily because of the islands' free-port status and the general increase in air and sea travel. In the late 1950s, when Cuba was closed as a port to American travelers, St. Thomas moved into a new position of importance as a preeminent tourist Mecca.

Today, the Island is a choice port of call among cruise lines and a popular vacation detination. Although St. Thomas was hard hit by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, and again by Hurricane Marilyn in 1995, the Island's hotels, shops and attractions have recovered from the storm.

One of the latest signs of St. Thomas' growth was the official addition of Water Island to the Virgin Islands in 1996. Located just off the southern coast of St. Thomas, the Island belonged to the U.S. Department of the Interior, who received title from the U.S. Army in 1952. Once a strategic military base during World War II, the Island is a tranquil retreat with secluded beaches and resorts, making it a soothing addition to the Virgin Island's charms.

Historical Sites

Seven Arches Museum - Once a 19th-century Danish Artisan's home, it has been lovingly converted into a museum by owners Barbara Demaras and Philibert Fluck. The two-story brick-and-stone structure, named for the seven arches that support its "welcoming arms" staircase, offers visitors a rare glimpse into the bygone era when St. Thomas was a cosmopolitan port town. Its located just to the left of the Lieutinent Governor's House down a tiny alley and to the left.

Fort Christian - This National Historic Landmark is the oldest building still in daily use on St. Thomas today; the fort dates back to the 17th century. Off the center courtyard are several small rooms that now comprise the Fort Christian Museum, Which includes a collection of Amerindian relics and some interesting displays depciting life in the former Danish colony.

Grand Hotel - Built in 1841, it is an excellent example of 19th-century architecture. It has recently been renovated, including restoration of many original features and expansion of the shopping area.

Emancipation Park - Located across from the Grand Hotel is a small park commemorating the 1848 proclamation that freed the slaves. A reproduction of Phiiladelphia's Liberty Bell occupies a corner of the grounds. Shade trees, park benches and a white gazebo make the park an ideal resting spot.

Frederick Lutheran Church - On Norre Gade, just east of the Grand Hotel, you will find the early-19th-century Frederick Lutheran Church, with its sweeping stairway. Constructed in a simple Georgian style in the 1780s, the sturcture has been rebuilt several times, resulting in the addition of its Gothic Revival trim. Among the church's treasures are antique changdeliers and 19th-century plaques inscribed in memory of several Danish colonists.

Legislature Building - On the harbor side of the fort, between Veteran's Drive and the waterfront, is a pretty lime green sturcture that houses the Island's legislature. The building is typical of the graceful Island architecture of a century ago; note the coat-of-arms painted on the exterior walls. The structure was originally was erected as a barracks for Danish troops; later it served as housing for U.S. Marines and as a public school. One of the high point's in the building's history was its use in 1917 as th esite of teh ceremonies transferring ownership of the Danish Virgin Islands to the United States.

Government House - Was erected in 1867 as a meeting place for Danish Colonial Council; it was renovated in 1994. It currently houses the offices of the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. This neoclassical white brick-and-wood structure, with a typical red roof and intricate ironwork, commands a magnifiscent view of the town and harbor.

99 Steps - This stairway, which rises up the summit of Government Hill, and others were built in the 1700s as a result of impractical planning by Danish Engineers who had never set foot on the Island. They decreed that the city be laid out in a grid-like pattern, which meant building steps into nearly every hillside. The bricks used to construct the steps were originally brought form Demark as ballast in the holds of sailing ships.

Blackbeard's Castle - Near the top of the 99 Steps lie the remnants of Fort Skytsborg, the 17-century fort that today is known as Blackbeard's Castle. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark by the federal government. Its name refers to the pirate Edward TEach, who allegedly frequented the Island hundreds of years ago.

Hotel 1829 - West of the foot of the 99 Steps is the Hotel 1829. This fine example of Island architecture, constructed in the year that is now part of its name, was built as a townhouse for a French sea captain named Lavalette, whose initials can still be seen in the wrought-iron grillwork on the balcony above the main entrance. The Hotel 1829 restaurant is world-renowned.

St. Thomas Synagogue - West of Government Hll, near the intersection of Raadets Gade and Crystal Gade, is The St. Thomas Synagogue. This is one of the most historically interesting - and best-preserved - buildings on St. Thomas. The Western Hemisphere's second-oldest synagogue (the oldest is on Curacao), this temple was constructed in 1833 by Sephardic Jews. The original structure was built in 1796. Since some of the earliest Danish settlers were Jewish, the temple played a very important role in the spiritual life of the colony. Fire destroyed the first synagogue in 104, and the second was dismantled to make room for a larger third, which also burned. In keeping with the Sephardic tradition, the floor of the current structure is covered with sand, symbolizing the ancient flight of the Jewish people out of Egypt and across the desert.

Market Square - On the west end of downtown Main Street is Market Square, where African slaves were once sold to the highest bidder. The auction blocks have been roofed, and now the square serves as an open-air produce market. Saturday is the busiest day, but just about any day has its share of local color and excitement.