Landmarks in St. Thomas
St. Thomas has a wealth of famous landmarks, from historical to geographical, which make it one of the best-loved destinations in the Caribbean for sightseeing and history.
Downtown Charlotte Amalie was settled by the Danish in the late 1600's, and still bears many buildings and structures from that era. Fort Christian, built by the Danish in 1672, was used to guard the town and was one of the first structures erected on the island. A short walk from there you'll find the famous 99 steps (actually closer to 103), which the Danes built in the early 1700s to connect the two sides of town. At the top is the old stone tower known as Blackbeard's Castle, although there's no conclusive proof that the notorious pirate ever used it as a lookout.
Europhiles will be tickled to see classic European-style architecture in such a seemingly incongruous setting in the middle of the Caribbean, as is evident in landmarks such as Government House and the legislature building. Both are open to the public for tours and visitors can even watch legislators while they are in session. And just to the east of the shopping district you'll find Market Square, at the intersection of Main Street and Strand Gade. Formerly the site of the island's slave trading market, it morphed into a railway station before its present incarnation as an open-air Saturday farmer's market.
One of the best geographical landmarks in St. Thomas is actually just offshore. The nearly uninhabited Hassel Island, in Charlotte Amalie Harbor, affords visitors the opportunity to get close to nature, while viewing ruins which reveal its past as a lookout, coaling station and shipping hub.
And no visit to St. Thomas would be complete without a visit to the island's landmark beach at Magens Bay. Voted one of the best beaches in the world, you can either see it up close, or get a bird's eye view from the Drake's Seat observation point, on top of the island.
Downtown Charlotte Amalie was settled by the Danish in the late 1600's, and still bears many buildings and structures from that era. Fort Christian, built by the Danish in 1672, was used to guard the town and was one of the first structures erected on the island. A short walk from there you'll find the famous 99 steps (actually closer to 103), which the Danes built in the early 1700s to connect the two sides of town. At the top is the old stone tower known as Blackbeard's Castle, although there's no conclusive proof that the notorious pirate ever used it as a lookout.
Europhiles will be tickled to see classic European-style architecture in such a seemingly incongruous setting in the middle of the Caribbean, as is evident in landmarks such as Government House and the legislature building. Both are open to the public for tours and visitors can even watch legislators while they are in session. And just to the east of the shopping district you'll find Market Square, at the intersection of Main Street and Strand Gade. Formerly the site of the island's slave trading market, it morphed into a railway station before its present incarnation as an open-air Saturday farmer's market.
One of the best geographical landmarks in St. Thomas is actually just offshore. The nearly uninhabited Hassel Island, in Charlotte Amalie Harbor, affords visitors the opportunity to get close to nature, while viewing ruins which reveal its past as a lookout, coaling station and shipping hub.
And no visit to St. Thomas would be complete without a visit to the island's landmark beach at Magens Bay. Voted one of the best beaches in the world, you can either see it up close, or get a bird's eye view from the Drake's Seat observation point, on top of the island.
St. Peter Greathouse Estate & Botanical Gardens
6A St. Peter Mountain Rd
At the corner of Rte. 40 and Barrett Hill Rd
Historic plantation and gardens...
Legislature Building
Route 30 (Veterans Drive)
Across from Fort Christian
Local politics in action...
