Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
structure that had burned down. In its heyday, all taxable goods leaving and
entering Christiansted's harbor were weighed here. In front of the building lies
one of the most charming squares in the Caribbean. Its old-fashioned asym-
metrical allure is still evident despite the mass of cars.
With your back to the scalehouse, turn left and walk through the parking lot to the
foot of the white-sided gazebolike band shell that sits in the center of a park named
after Alexander Hamilton. The yellow-brick building with the ornately carved brick
staircase is the:
2
Old Customs House
This is currently the headquarters of the National Park Service. The gracefully
proportioned 16-step staircase was added in 1829 as an embellishment to an
older building. (There are public toilets on the ground floor.)
Continue climbing the hill to the base of the yellow-painted structure, which is:
3
Fort Christiansvaern
This is the best-preserved colonial fortification in the Virgin Islands. It's main-
tained as a historic monument by the National Park Service. Its original four-
sided, diamond-shaped design was in accordance with the most advanced
military planning of its era. The fort is the site of the St. Croix military museum,
which documents police work on the island from the late 1800s to the present.
Photos, weapons, and artifacts help bring to life the police force's past here. The
admission price of $3 also includes admission to the Steeple Building (see
below). The fort is open daily from 8am to 5pm. For information, call
&
340/
773-1460.
5
Exit from the fort, and head straight down the tree-lined path toward the most visible
steeple in Christiansted. It caps the appropriately named:
4
Steeple Building
Completed in 1753, the Steeple Building was embellished with a steeple
between 1794 and 1796. For a time it served as the headquarters of the Church
of Lord God of Sabaoth. The original structure can still be visited (see below).
Inside is a local history museum. Hours are daily from 8am to 4:45pm; admis-
sion is included in the $3 ticket for Fort Christiansvaern.
Across Company Street from the Steeple Building is a U.S. post office.
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The Danish West India and
Guinea Warehouse
The building that houses the post office was built in 1749 as the warehouse for
the Danish West India and Guinea Company. The structure was once three
times larger than it is today and included storerooms and lodging for staff. Go
to the building's side entrance, on Church Street, and enter the rear courtyard.
For many years, this was the site of some of the largest slave auctions in the
Caribbean.
From the post office, retrace your steps to Company Street and head west for 1 block.
On your left, you'll pass the entrance to Apothecary Hall, 2111 Company St., which con-
tains a charming collection of shops and restaurants.
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