Top 10:

Historical Things to Do in St. Thomas

    • Fort Christian - St. Thomas

      • 1. Fort Christian

      • Bastion of history
        • Landmarks
        • St. Thomas - Charlotte Amalie
    • Blackbeard's Castle - St. Thomas

      • 2. Blackbeard's Castle

      • One of four National Historic Landmarks.
        • Landmarks
        • St. Thomas - Charlotte Amalie
    • 99 Steps - St. Thomas

      • 3. 99 Steps

      • Hike along a 1700s-era pathway
        • Castles, Palaces & Historic Buildings
        • St. Thomas - Charlotte Amalie
    • Government House - St. Thomas

      • 4. Government House

      • Historic government building
        • Landmarks
        • St. Thomas - Charlotte Amalie
    • Legislature Building - St. Thomas
    • Camille Pissarro Gallery - St. Thomas
    • St. Thomas Synagogue - St. Thomas
    • Frederick Lutheran Church - St. Thomas
    • Market Square - St. Thomas

      • 9. Market Square

      • Farmer's market in the heart of town
        • Markets
        • St. Thomas - Charlotte Amalie
    • Hassel Island - St. Thomas

      • 10. Hassel Island

      • Historic island in Charlotte Amalie harbor
        • Picnics, Parks & Gardens
        • St. Thomas - Charlotte Amalie
    See all 167 Things to Do in St. Thomas: 1 2
  • The Best of NileGuide
  • Owing to its past as a Danish colonial outpost and trading port, St. Thomas has a rich historical resume spanning 400 years. Pirates, merchants, artists, industrialists and the military have all left their mark on the island, with the majority of the best historical sites located in and around the capital of Charlotte Amalie. In fact, many of the best historical sites can be seen in a half-day trek around the capital on foot, as they are mostly within walking distance from one another.

    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. Opposite the legislature, near the waterfront, sits Fort Christian, one of the first structures built by the Danish in 1672 which was used to guard the town.

    A little further to the east you can climb 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.

    Another one of the best historical activities 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.

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