Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Emancipation Park - The Grand Galleria
The fire house near the fort faces Emancipation Park, which
is small and marked by a bandstand. It was here that Gover-
nor Peter Von Scholten freed the slaves of the Virgin Islands
after a revolt on St. Croix. It was July 3, 1848. He was re-
called to Denmark in disgrace. A motion to rename the park
in the Governor's honor was defeated in the Virgin Island
Legislature. Look for a replica of the Liberty Bell and a bust
of King Christian amid the benches and stately old trees.
Vendors Plaza
is adjacent to the park. The stunning white
building that frames the park's northern border is
The
Grand Galleria
. Built in 1841 as the Grand Hotel, it is an
excellent example of 19th-century Greek Revival architec-
ture. The hotel fell into disrepair but was renovated and is
now home to art galleries, boutiques and restaurants.
Norre Gade's Sites
Norre Gade (North Street, actually the continuation of Main
Street) is the block that the Grand Galleria opens onto. If
you stroll along Norre Gade, you'll soon come to stately
Frederick Lutheran Church
, founded in 1666, the same
year the Danish West Indies company received the charter
to settle St. Thomas.
Actually, the earliest services were held in Fort Christian
and this church wasn't built until 1793. Gutted by fire and
hurricanes, it was restored in 1973 and now looks exactly as
it did two centuries ago. A schedule of services is posted out-
side. Adjacent to the church building is the Danish
manor-style
Bethania Hall
, built as a private home in
1800. It served as home for the aged, a school and a post of-
fice before becoming the
Parish Hall
.
Beyond the church you'll see
Roosevelt Park
, with a small
children's playground and lovely plants and trees. Upon
closer inspection, you'll notice name tags on many of them,
put there by The Conservation Department.
