Christiansted National Historic Site / Fort Christiansvaern, Christiansted
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Constructed from yellow Danish brick and masonry, Fort Christiansvaern (Christian's Defences) was built between 1738 and 1749. Of the five Danish forts in the West Indies, this is the best preserved featuring cannoned ramparts surrounding a central courtyard, prison cells, dungeons, a kitchen and soldiers quarters furnished in period décor. A small military museum is also on site.The fort was built to protect the colony from the onslaught of pirates, hurricanes and slave revolts. Although Danish soldiers were stationed here until 1878, the forts cannons and guns have never been fired in an armed conflict. After 1878 the fort served as an island courthouse and prison.
Official site:
www.nps.gov/chri
Address:
2100 Church St. #100, Danish Custom House, Christiansted, St Croix 00820, United States Virgin Islands
Opening hours:
8am-4:45pm
Always closed on: Epiphany (3 Kings' Day ) - Christian (Jan 6), New Year's Day (Jan 1), Martin Luther King's Birthday - USA (3rd Monday, Jan), President's Day - USA (3rd Monday, Feb), Transfer Day - US Virgin Islands (Mar 31), Memorial Day - USA (last Monday, May), Organic Act Day - US Virgin Islands (3rd Monday, Jun), American Independance Day (Jul 4), Hurricane Supplication Day - US Virgin Islands (4th Monday, Jul), Emancipation Day - US Virgin Islands (Jul 3), Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, Sep), Columbus Day/Puerto Rican Friendship Day - US Virgin Islands (2nd Monday, Oct), Local Thanksgiving Day - US Virgin Islands (3rd Monday, Oct), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, Nov), Veteran's Day - USA (Nov 11), Liberty Day - US Virgin Islands (Nov 1), Christmas - Christian (Dec 25), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (Dec 26), Easter Monday - Christian, Maundy (Holy) Thursday - Christian, Good Friday - Christian
Entrance fee in USD:
Adult $3.00, Child 15 & under FREE
Parking: Free
Related Attractions
Steeple Building & National Park Service Museum
Built by the Danish between 1750 and 1753, this building was St Croix's first house of worship, the Lutheran Church of Lord God and Saboath. The Georgian steeple was added to the white building in the early 1800s. The building has been modified several times and has had various uses, first as a military bakery in 1831, and then as a hospital and school.Today, the Steeple Building houses the National Park Service Museum featuring exhibits depicting life in historic St Croix. There is a model of a working sugar plantation, Taíno artifacts and agricultural exhibits.A chronology of the history of Africans in the Virgin Islands is also featured, as well as the history of the diverse architectural styles used on St Croix throughout the centuries. The building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks.
Danish West India & Guinea Company Warehouse
Built in 1749, this three-story neoclassical structure and walled courtyard was the warehouse and headquarters for the Danish West India and Guinea Company. Until the abolition of the slavery in the 19th C, the courtyard was the site of a busy slave market.Also used as military headquarters, today the building is Christiansted's main post office. The building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks.
Old Danish Customs House
For more than a century this yellow brick and masonry building served as the Dane's customs house. Construction of the Old Danish Customs House began 1750 and the building, which features a 16-step entrance, has changed over the years with a second floor added c1830 that was once the town's post office. The building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks.
Old Danish Scale House
Built from yellow-masonry construction, this two-story hipped-roof Old Danish Scale House was built in 1856. It is the site of a former Danish weighing station for sugar exports, as well as imports that arrived in St Croix. Today housing the offices of the National Parks Service, the scales and the weigh-master's office can be seen. The building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks.
Map of Christiansted Attractions
Christiansted Map
