Charlotte Amalie

Under the Danish colonial government the port accommodated one of the world's biggest slave trade operations, routing slaves from Africa to other areas in the Caribbean and on the mainland. From Emancipation Garden, the city's central square, slaves heard the proclamation giving them freedom in 1848.

Valdemar Hill Drive offers a panoramic view of Charlotte Amalie and its deepwater harbor, usually busy with several major cruise ships, container ships, island sloops and yachts. The 17th-century warehouses now house shops and restaurants that accommodate the tourist trade. Distinctive among the city's old buildings is the governor's office, the Government House, furnished with antiques and paintings by native impressionist Camille Pissarro.

At the base of the nearby “Ninety-Nine Steps,” one of the few remaining stair-streets that once helped residents traverse the hilly town, is Government Hill, a wealthy residential community of the 18th century. Crown House, a national historic landmark, is a fine example of how wealthy Danish planters lived during the sugar heyday.

Historically significant churches include the St. Thomas Reformed Church, one of the first outside New York's Dutch colony; and the Frederick Lutheran Church, where silver equipment more than 2 centuries old is still in use. The St. Thomas Synagogue is one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere and still has sand on its floor to symbolize the Jews' flight from Egypt through the desert. The New Herrnhut Moravian Church, about 2.5 miles (4 km) east of town, was built by missionaries in 1738.

Visitor Information

Attractions

Fort Christian Virgin Island Museum

Paradise Point Skyride