Fort Christian
Fort Christian | |
Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands | |
| Coordinates | 18°20′27″N 64°55′47″W / 18.34083°N 64.92972°W |
|---|---|
| Area | 1.92 acres (0.78 ha) |
| Built | c. 1666–1680 |
| Architect | Governor Jørgen Iversen |
| Architectural style | Danish Military, Late Victorian, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001329[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 5, 1977 |
| Designated NHL | May 5, 1977[2] |
Fort Christian is a
The fort property was the Charlotte Amalie National Historic Site,
Description and history
Fort Christian is located in central Charlotte Amalie, now separated from its harbor by Veterans Drive. The historical significance of its placement is obscured by the fact that it is now surrounded on its eastern and western flanks by made land; it originally occupied a narrow peninsula that jutted south into the harbor. The fort was a basically square structure with stone curtain walls and diamond-shaped stone bastions at the corners. The north, east, and west sides at one time were further augmented by ravelins, and there was originally a circular stone tower in the center of the fort. Of these structures, only three of the curtain walls and the four bastions remain, along with some living quarters built along the surviving curtain walls. The central tower was torn down in the 19th century, replaced by the present Gothic Revival structure.[4]
The first attempt by the Dano-Norwegians to settle Saint Thomas took place in 1665, and failed in part because the colonists were caught between the actors of the
After being closed for a decade for renovations, the fort reopened in 2017 for the Transfer Day centennial.[7]
Gallery
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View from the east -
Northeast bastion -
Fort Christian, May 2017 -
Fort Christian, May 2017
See also
- List of United States National Historic Landmarks in United States commonwealths and territories, associated states, and foreign states
- National Register of Historic Places listings in the United States Virgin Islands
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ a b "Fort Christian". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on February 27, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
- ^ Russell Wright (May 20, 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Charlotte Amalie Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved May 24, 2017. With 28 photos from 1976.
- ^ a b c Mark R. Barnes (July 3, 2000). "National Historic Landmark Nomination: Fort Christian" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 1, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ Fort Christian, National Park Service
- ^ Attractions: Historic Charlotte Amalie, VInow.com
- ^ Kelsey Nowakowski (March 30, 2017). "Fort Christian Reopens in Time for Centennial Celebration". St. Thomas Source. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
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