Virgin Islands Historic Blogs

If you were on St. Thomas 88 years ago today you would have had a chance to see the famous American aviator, Charles Lindbergh. His Spirit of St. Louis flight log for January 31st, 1928 has him traveling from Caracas, Venezuela to St. Thomas; and then on February 2nd, 1928 from St. Thomas to San […]

In the capital of the Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie, stands a large fort and if its walls could talk what a history it would tell. Fort Christian is the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands; it has stood as a sentry overlooking the Charlotte Amalie Harbor for over 300 years. Fort Christian might tell […]

The United States bought the Virgin Islands in 1917. In the last 86 years under the American flag the islands have seen a change in the economy from a historically agricultural economy based on sugar and cotton production to tourism and industry, an increase in population, advancement in technology, local elections vs. appointment of leaders, […]

Have you ever cleaned your house with a hand-made broom made from native USVI Teyer Palm? Do you know what a ‘goose’ is, the type you iron with? How about a coal pot, ever use one of those to cook? These three items conjure up lots of memories for many Virgin Islanders; and today we […]

Bastille Day, celebrated on July 14th, is the national holiday of France. It is celebrated on July 14th because on this day in 1789 the people of Paris rose up against the government of King Louis XVI and captured the fortress of Bastille. This capture symbolized a new feeling of freedom, which spread throughout France […]

November 1st is a local holiday in the U.S. Virgin Islands, David Hamilton Jackson Day. David Hamilton Jackson was born on September 28, 1884 on St. Croix in what was then the Danish West Indies. His education began at East Hill School where both his parents were teachers. He went on to earn a law […]