Christiansted National Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christiansted National Historic Site |
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 Christiansted National Historic Site
Location in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Christiansted National Historic Site
Location in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Christiansted National Historic Site
Location in Caribbean
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| Location | Christiansted, Virgin Islands, USA |
| Area | 27.15 acres (10.99 ha) |
| Established | March 4, 1952 |
| Visitors | 106,015 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Christiansted National Historic Site |
The Christiansted National Historic Site helps us remember how a colonial town grew in the United States Virgin Islands. It shows off buildings from the 1700s and 1800s. These buildings are right in the middle of Christiansted. This city was once the capital of the Danish West Indies on St. Croix Island.
The site has six important old buildings. These include Fort Christiansværn, built between 1738 and 1749. There's also the Danish West India and Guinea Company Warehouse from 1749. Other buildings are the Church of Our Lord Sabaoth Steeple Building (1753), the Customs House (1840-1842), the Scale House (1856), and Government House (1747). The Danish West India and Guinea Company used their warehouse for trade, including the buying and selling of people, until this practice was stopped in 1803.
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What is the History of Christiansted?
Christiansted started to be built in May 1735. It was designed using a special grid pattern. A set of rules for building, called the Building Code, was made in 1747. These rules decided how wide streets should be and what materials could be used. By the 1760s, most buildings were made of stone. Government buildings often had a grand, classical style.
How Was Fort Christiansværn Built?
The fort was built in 1738. It stood on the remains of an older French fort that a hurricane had destroyed. This fort helped protect trade ships from pirates and privateers. It also kept local citizens safe from revolts. The first Danish governors lived here too.
The British took control of the colony twice. First, from 1801 to 1803, and again from 1807 to 1815. After 1878, the fort became a police station. It also held court offices, a courthouse, and important records. Soldiers were replaced by 60 police officers in 1906. These officers stayed until Transfer Day in 1917. This was when the islands became part of the United States.
Who Was Jailed at the Fort?
The fort also served as the colony's jail. A famous person who was held there was Rachel Faucette. She was the mother of Alexander Hamilton, a very important figure in American history. Rachel was married at age sixteen in 1745. In 1750, she decided she would no longer live with her husband. Under Danish law, this was an offense, and her husband had her jailed. She spent several months in a small cell with only one tiny window. After being released, she left for the British West Indies. There, she met Alexander Hamilton's father.
When Did the Historic Site Begin?
The site was first created on March 4, 1952. It was called the Virgin Islands National Historic Site back then. Local citizens who cared about preserving history helped make this happen. Its goal was to protect the old buildings and land. It also aimed to teach people about life in the Danish colony from 1733 to 1917. This included how the government worked, the military, and international trade. It also covered different religions, architecture, and daily life. The site was renamed on January 16, 1961. Like all historic places managed by the National Park Service, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
As of 2016, the National Park Service planned to celebrate its 100th anniversary. They wanted to fix up the main warehouse building. The idea was to turn it into a museum about the history of the buying and selling of people. They also planned to make the entire area look like it did in 1833.
Images for kids
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View from the Steeple Building
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Interior of Fort Christiansværn
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An 1836 plan of Fort Christiansværn
