Christiansted: Danish Heritage and Historic Buildings

Located in the waterfront and wharf area of Christiansted is the seven-acre Christiansted National Historic Site. The site includes Fort Christiansvaern, the Danish West India & Guinea Company Warehouse, the Steeple Building, the Danish Custom House, and the Scale House. Christiansted was founded in 1734, when Governor Frederick Moth led a group of settlers to the site of a former French camp. Danish colonial heritage remains visible today in the architecture and street names.

Fort Christiansvaern and the History of the Site

Fort Christiansvaern is the largest structure at the historic site and one of the best-preserved colonial forts in the Caribbean. Its history spans several defining chapters: Danish rule, the growth of the sugar economy, emancipation and labor reforms, and the transfer of the Virgin Islands to the United States in 1917. History enthusiasts will find not just a single structure here, but a connection between colonial rule and social change. This sequence helps visitors consider the historic buildings and the development of the site together.

At Christiansted National Historic Site, self-guided tours are available through Fort Christiansvaern, the Steeple Building, and the Scale House, as well as ranger-led tours. Confirm the current availability of ranger-led tours before planning your visit. Brochures are available for self-guided tours of the Steeple Building and the Scale House. You can also picnic, take a walk, or sit on a bench on the grounds, making it easy to combine your visit with time outdoors.

Buildings with Changing Uses

The Steeple Building was built between 1751 and 1755 and originally dedicated as the Lutheran Church of Lord God of Sabaoth. From 1753, it housed Christiansted’s first congregation. After the church was deconsecrated in 1831, the building took on many other roles: it served as a hospital, school, courthouse, fire station, town hall, and location for government offices. The Steeple Building also features historical and interpretive exhibits.

The Danish West India and Guinea Company Warehouse also connects architectural and commercial history. The complex was completed in 1749. Enslaved Africans owned by the Company built it. In the 18th and 19th centuries, all goods brought to Christiansted were inspected and taxed there. The Danish Customs House was built between 1840 and 1842 on the site of an earlier complex used for the slave and sugar trades. From 1926 to 1972, it served as the first public library in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Other sites add religious and personal history to the picture. The Lord God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church was built around 1740 and is considered the oldest surviving church on St. Croix. Apothecary Hall, a historic Danish pharmacy, was converted into a museum and is described as the only one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Hamilton House is the house where Alexander Hamilton spent part of his childhood.

Jump Up: Music, Dance, and Local Food

Jump Up offers a different cultural focus: this carnival-like event takes place four times a year in the streets and along the Christiansted waterfront. Check current event dates when planning your trip. Jump Up features steel drum bands and live musicians; Mocko Jumbies, the stilt walkers, dance in the streets. Street vendors offer food, drinks, crafts, and handmade jewelry. Visitors can sample local food while listening to Caribbean music. Music, dance, and food culture shape the event experience, while tours of the historic site focus on individual buildings and their history.

Discover more destinations: Christiansted

For the main travel overview: St Croix.