Charlotte Amalie Historic District, Colonial historic district in Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands.
Charlotte Amalie Historic District spreads across a large area along St. Thomas Harbor and contains hundreds of buildings displaying Greek Revival and Federal architecture. The streets connect residential homes, shops, and public spaces in a densely developed pattern that reflects different periods of its growth.
Danish settlers established the district in the late 1600s, with Fort Christian built as the first European structure between 1666 and 1680. The area later became a major trading center and port that shaped regional commerce and settlement patterns.
Emancipation Park sits at the heart of the district as a gathering place where locals and visitors meet throughout the day. It marks the liberation of enslaved people and remains central to how people experience and use the space today.
The district offers several walking paths connecting different sites, with visitor information available near the harbor. Wear good shoes since many streets are steep and made of uneven historic stone surfaces.
A remarkable staircase with 99 steps was built in the 1700s using ballast bricks from Danish ships to connect the waterfront to upper neighborhoods. The steps remain in use today and show how early settlers repurposed ship materials for everyday needs.
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