St Thomas Virgin Islands
Interactive Map of St Thomas
Glistening bays, sparkling seas, towering tropical green hills, relaxed lifestyle
and unsurpassed beauty. St Thomas offers some of the best powdery beaches
in the world. For sailing, St Thomas is the gateway to Drake Passage where
the most scenic Caribbean sailing can be found. St. Thomas is the duty free
capital of the Caribbean and offers an exceptional shopping experience.
More cruise ships stop on St Thomas than any other Caribbean Island. St
Thomas also offers fine dining and lots of night life.
The island tourism industry is flourishing and why not? It has everything
to offer for the perfect getaway.
Romantic sunsets nightly...
|
|
Just some of the activities visitor's to St Thomas enjoy.
-
snorkeling
-
horseback riding
-
bicycling
-
sailing
-
scuba diving
-
golfing
-
tennis
|
deep sea fishing
beaches
hiking
mountain climbing
ecotourism
boating
whale watching
|
-
jet skiing
-
movie theaters
-
wind surfing
-
ruins
-
gym
-
waterskiing
-
swimming
|
-Flag
-History
Columbus discovered the Virgin Islands during his second voyage to the new world in 1493.
The flags of Spain, France, England, Holland, Dennmark and the United States have flown
over the islands.
In 1674 four houses/taverns were built along the waterfront to the west of Fort Christian.
Until then Fort Christian was the only structure built on the coastline of the agricultural
colony. These taverns were so popular with the early settlers and seamen who visted, it
became known as Taphus, or Beer Hall. In 1691 the town was renamed to Charlotte Amalie in honor
of the wife of King Christian V.
Priracy and slave trade was flourishing and provided the economy enough money to develop and
grow. By 1700 piracy gave way to legitimate trade, where once were bucaneers, now stood properous
legitimate merchants. In 1764 St Thomas was declared a free port, and by 1800 it was the trading
center of the West Indies.
The next two decades saw some of the islands' worst fortune. Fires repeatadly burned down the
town of Charlotte Amalie. Trade embargos, rising competition from beet/sugar trade
and the abolition of slave trade in the early 1800's all impacted the Virgin Islands' economy.
By 1900 St Thomas' economy no longer enjoyed properous times like it had a century before. During World War I
the United States purchased the Virgin Islands for $25 million in gold. After World War II the islands' free port
status and increased tourism brought prosperity back to the island.
Interactive Map
|
