Fort Frederik Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Fort Frederik
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. Historic district Contributing property

Fort Frederik
Location in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Location in the U.S. Virgin Islands Show map of the U.S. Virgin Islands
Location	North of junction of Lagoon Road and King Street, Frederiksted, United States Virgin Islands
Area	2 acres (8,100 m²)
Built	1752
Architectural style	Colonial
Part of	Frederiksted Historic District (ID76001853)
NRHP reference No.	96001073 (NRHP) 97001269 (NHL)
Added to NRHP	October 8, 1996
Designated NHL	September 25, 1997
Designated CP	August 9, 1976

Fort Frederik, also called Frederiksfort, is a very important historical site in Frederiksted, United States Virgin Islands. It's known as a National Historic Landmark in the U.S. This fort was built between 1752 and 1760 by Denmark-Norway. Its main job was to protect the busy port of Frederiksted. It also helped keep pirates away from the ships.

The fort has bright red and white walls. This makes it look different from Fort Christiansværn, which is on the other side of the island. Fort Frederik is located at the north end of Frederiksted, in St. Croix. It's near where Mahogany Road and VI 631 meet. Don't mix it up with Frederiks Fort on St. John, which is a different historical site.

Why Fort Frederik Was Built
A Special Salute to America
Freedom for Enslaved People
Visiting Fort Frederik Today
Eliza James-McBean Clock Tower and Emancipation Park
Images for kids
See also

Why Fort Frederik Was Built

The people in charge soon realized they needed more than just a customs house. They needed cannons to protect the ships. Without these cannons, ships could easily leave without paying their fees. So, the fort was built to make sure everyone followed the rules.

A Special Salute to America

In 1776, something amazing happened at Fort Frederik. It fired the very first salute from a foreign land to the new United States of America. An American ship had raised its flag, the "Old Glory," in the port. Firing a salute was against Denmark-Norway's rules of neutrality.

However, the islands had helped the American colonists. This created a friendly bond between them. So, the salute was seen as a fitting gesture of friendship.

Freedom for Enslaved People

Fort Frederik is also famous for a very important event. On July 3, 1848, the Danish Governor-General Peter von Scholten declared that all enslaved people were free. This happened right from this fort.

Before this, a brave leader named John Gottliff, also known as Buddhoe, led about 8,000 enslaved people. They marched to Frederiksted demanding their freedom. At that time, there were 17,000 enslaved people and 5,000 free black people on St. Croix.

Visiting Fort Frederik Today

Today, Fort Frederik is a museum and an art gallery. It's a great place to learn about the island's history. You can visit the fort on weekdays from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. On Saturdays, it's open from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. In 2015, the admission fee was $3.

The fort is a part of the Frederiksted Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Then, in 1997, it was named a National Historic Landmark.

Eliza James-McBean Clock Tower and Emancipation Park

Fort Frederik now overlooks the Eliza James-McBean Clock Tower and Emancipation Park. This park is right in front of the fort and the waterfront. It has statues of important people from the Virgin Islands. Small paths wind through many large mahogany trees and sweet-smelling flowers.

This park honors General Buddhoe, the leader of the slave revolt. It also remembers the 1848 declaration by Governor Peter von Scholten that freed the enslaved people. The park has benches and a small gazebo. It's also where "Jazz in the Park" events happen every third Friday of the month.