St. Thomas
Charlotte Amalie
Capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands and one of the main cities in St. Thomas. The island’s harbor welcomes travelers with surrounding mountains and varieties of luxury ships. A popular cruise port with downtown shopping, dining and excursions. A lush tropical island packed with natural beauty and rich history.
History & Culture
Once a pirate’s paradise with visitors like Edward Teach (Blackbeard) and Sir Francis Drake. St. Thomas’ naturally hilly terrain, wide harbor, and location provided an advantage for spotting incoming vessels and an ideal location to restock supplies compared to other surrounding islands. Francis Drake had a vantage point in the hills known as Drake’s Seat overlooking Magens Bay and Blackbeard had a watchtower overlooking the harbor. The presence of pirates on St. Thomas were so popular that a pirate treasure museum was created in Charlotte Amalie dedicated to preserving ancient artifacts and historical records.
Hints of Danish architecture, 99 steps (built to navigate hilly Charlotte Amalie) and statues reminds islanders and travelers of Denmark’s 200 years of colonial influence. In 1878 a slave labor riot known as “Fire burn” erupted in nearby island St. Croix to protest Danish West Indies colonial rule which produced low wages and poor living conditions. Word spread and three courageous women from St. Thomas joined the resistance. The Three Queens Statue was built in honor of Mary Thomas, Axeline Salomon (Agnes), and Mathilda Mc Bean (Matilda).
