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Move over Indiana Jones — the next great religious artifact may not be buried in Egypt or hidden in an Ethiopian church. According to one book, the legendary Ark of the Covenant might be chilling somewhere in the bush on St. Croix, possibly under a mango tree, next to an old sugar mill, or behind
Is the Ark of the Covenant Hidden on St. Croix? Read More »
The long-term success of Danish St. Croix’s sugar economy depended not only on the island’s fertile land but also on the planters’ ability to adapt to changing trade conditions.By skillfully shifting between molasses and rum production based on international tariffs, St. Croix remained a key supplier in the Atlantic economy throughout the 18th century. 1.
Tariffs, Trade, and Adaptation: How St. Croix Navigated the Sugar Economy Read More »
I was recently asked how many enslaved workers were needed to operate a sugar plantation. The answer isn’t simple — much like asking, “How long is a piece of string?” By the peak of St. Croix’s sugar industry, the original 150-acre Danish plantations had often been subdivided or merged, making estate sizes highly variable. In
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Altona Lagoon is a serene and scenic lagoon located on the eastern side of Christiansted. Known for its tranquil waters and lush natural surroundings, the lagoon is a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike who enjoy outdoor activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and birdwatching. The surrounding mangrove forests add to the lagoon’s ecological richness,
Hardens Gut is a historically significant area located in the Frederiksted area of St. Croix, in the vicinity of the Ball Park, on what was once Estate La Grange. The term “Gut” refers to a ravine or watercourse, which is common terminology in the Caribbean for natural waterways that channel rainwater from the hills to
The Estate Whim Museum’s mission is “to advance the understanding and appreciation of the humanities and the unique historical and cultural legacy of St. Croix and the entire Virgin Islands, through preservation, research and education.” It is hard to understand how this can be achieved seeing the disrepair that exists today. This pre 1995 photo
Historical Context Marronage refers to the act of escaping from slavery and establishing independent communities, often in remote and inaccessible areas. Enslaved Africans on St. Croix, as in other parts of the Caribbean, sought freedom from oppressive conditions by fleeing into the island’s interior or other less accessible regions. The rugged terrain of St. Croix,
Maroons and Marronage on St. Croix Read More »
I felt it necessary to juxtapose how the lighthouse looked when it was first in operation with how it looks today. Sad. This shows the lighthouse, apparently in operation in 2006 but had already been deactivated in the mid 1990s. Marcus Bodio (deceased) had provided the illumination. It can be seen to already be deteriorating
Save the Hams Bluff Lighthouse Read More »
Location: 17°45’44.99″N 64°53’10.14″WEstate Northside. NA-37 Monks Bath is a feature, located in the north-west of St Croix, approximately 3.7 miles north of Frederiksted. According to one story, monks carved the pool to stay clean without using their fresh drinking water. However, others say that the pool was built in the 1950s or 60s by property owners who