The iconic statue is a symbol of freedom in the US Virgin Islands. It is located in front of the…read moreCustoms House and sits in what is called the Freedom Fountain. The fountain is dry though and does not have any water. The sculpture is one of two statues of Gottlieb in the area. The other being in front of the bandstand. It is the work of Ghanaian-American sculptor Bright Bimpong and depicts Gottlieb, also called General Buddhoe, blowing a conch shell. Legend has it that Gottlieb blow a conch shell setting off a slave revolt of thousands of slaves that ultimately resulted in the Danish governor freeing them. It was dedicated in 1998, on the 150th anniversary of the Islands' emancipation proclamation. The sculpture has seen better days and has that green staining the you see a lot in older statues. The statue was one of a trio, known as "Freedom Statues," that were commissioned by Walter G. Brunner of St. Croix, an art collector and political consultant to former governor Roy L. Schneider," said Lonnie Willis, president of the St. John Historical Society. I really like what it stands for to the island and its significance a lot. There is a free parking lot, across the street, within a reasonable walking distance from the statue and there is also free street parking available as well. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area such as the Fort or the Clock Tower, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

Has to be one of the top beaches on the Island! Open from 10-4 on weekends. Couple of things to…read morenote, no bathrooms, no long pole umbrellas allowed only canopy tents, no shade areas and no concession areas. Small coolers, beach chairs are okay to bring.

While I was in St. Croix a couple months ago, this was on a lot of lists of 'Places to See' in St…read more Croix so I naturally had to go. This was probably the best beach that I went to on St. Croix. The beaches were clean and sandy. The water was great. It was also cool to see where the last scene of Shawshank Redemption was filmed. I would definitely go back to this beach.

This fort, which is located in the heart of Frederiksted on the West side of St Croix, is also…read moreknown as Frederiksfort. This Danish Fort was built between 1752 and 1760 to defend their economic interest from sea attacks. It has bright red and white walls, which are contrast to the yellow and white walls of its sister fort, Fort Christiansvaern. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in1996. The Fort was site of some significant events including the Emancipation Revolt of 1848, the 1878 Labor Riot and Fire burn, and one of the 1917 ceremonies transferring the Virgin Islands to the US. It costs $5 to tour the fort and they only take MasterCard and cash. I had neither, so I had to run to a nearby ATM to get some cash out. The fort has some exhibits set up in some of it rooms. Some of the exhibits include sea glass, the acquisition of the Virgin Islands, the slave trade, a replica of the Commandant's Quarters decorated with furniture from that period, architecture for that period, and slave revolts. You will find some cannons that were used for the fort's defense along the waterfront. It looks like they are pointing at the cruise ship pier. $5 is not a lot of money for a museum entry fee and this is about the right amount for this place. As a bonus, you will find free parking in a lot across the street by the playground and there is also free street parking available. The fort is in pretty bad shape and is in need of some major restoration and renovations. The exhibits are ok. Some of them, especially the slavery ones were damaged by a hurricane, are faded, and very hard to read. There is also very poor lighting in the slavery exhibit area. They do have some nice artifacts in the exhibits such as shackles, wooden fences from the era, and whips. A lot of the fort is outdoors and even though the exhibit rooms are indoors, converted from rooms in the actual Fort, there is no air conditioning. So, it can get kind of hot. With that being said, you may want to bring some water. This place is OK. I spent about 45 minutes here. It is nowhere near as well preserved as Fort Christiansvaern, but it does have more exhibits than that fort though. It is a cool place to check out for history buffs or if you are in the area. There are a ton of other attractions in the immediate area to see including Buddhoe Park, the freedom statues, Frederiksted beach and a very nice playground.

If you are a history buff, you will enjoy this location. They did a great job of really pulling you…read moreback into time so you can see the horrors and reality of colonization for the time. It will give you a true perspective of how this island came to be and make you appreciate, what happened to make this is where it is now

This is one of three statues, that are known as the "Freedom Statues". It is the work of…read moreGhanaian-American sculptor Bright Bimpong, which he created in 1998. It is the focal point of the park that bears his name D. Hamilton Jackson Park. Jackson was a labor activist and an advocate of free press. He was a key player in the Danish West Indies' (now known as St. Croix) labor rights movements in the early 1900s. He also started the first free press newspaper, and sought better conditions for the Black working class in the Islands. This is one of two busts of Jackson, the other being in front of Fort Christiansvaern. This is the better of the two in my opinion. It is much more detailed and in better shape. The bust depicts a very realistic bust of Jackson on a granite pedestal, with David Hamilton on a small bronze plaque across the top and "Jackson" running vertically down the center. The pedestal is on a red brick pad that has some of the bricks missing. I assume that it is damage from the 2017 Hurricane. The park that the statue is in has ample parking available, so parking to get out and take a closer look should not be an issue. It was very easy. This man was so important to the island that he has a park and two statues on different sides of the island in his honor. This is definitely worth a look. I probably would not make a special trip to see it though. As with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there about 5 minutes. With that being said you may want to make this a part of a larger itinerary on plan this stop on the way to some other destination.

Gottlieb, also known as General Buddhoe, led a revolt of thousands of slaves, in 1848, who gathered…read morein Fredriksted to demand freedom. The Danish governor yielded to the demands and declared all slaved in the Danish Virgin Islands were now free. This is one of two statues of Gottlieb in the area. The other being in front of the customs house. It is the work of Ghanaian-American sculptor Bright Bimpong and depicts a bronze bust of Gottlieb on a marble pedestal with "BUDDHOE" running down it. It is a very detailed bust and you can see the pride on his face. It was made in 1998, on the 150th anniversary of the Islands' emancipation proclamation. It sits on a lighted circular cement pad. The statue was one of a trio, known as "Freedom Statues," that were commissioned by Walter G. Brunner of St. Croix, an art collector and political consultant to former governor Roy L. Schneider," said Lonnie Willis, president of the St. John Historical Society. I like what it stands for to the island and its significance a lot. There is a free lot, across the street, within a reasonable walking distance from the statue and there is also free street parking available as well. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area such as the Fort or the Clock Tower, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

I am surprised that I am the first person to do a review of this tower. This is a clock tower…read morelocated at the end of the cruise ship pier, in the heart of downtown Frederiksted. The tower, along with the boardwalk was posthumously named after McBean, in 2003 by the Virgin Islands Senate. It was dedicated 6 years later in 2009. Mcbean was a local resident that lived to the age of 105. The tower has a clock face on all four of its sides, with the numbers being in Roman numerals. One of the sides has the name of the tower in big letters and a bronze information placard with a picture of McBean and information about the tower. The tower does not keep very accurate time. All of the sides of the clock display different times, none of which are correct. I still find the tower appealing and am drawn to it. It definitely demands you attention. There is a free lot within a reasonable walking distance from the tower and there is also free street parking available as well. It is probably not a long stop, but as I mentioned, still something to see. I spent about 5 to ten minutes there. The good news is that there is a ton of attractions in the immediate area to check out, in addition to the tower. This is one of the most photographed attractions on the island, outside of its water. I believe the tower was built in 2005 and outside of not holding accurate time, I think it is in good shape and looks great. I would recommend making a stop here part of a larger itinerary or stopping here if you were in the area on your way somewhere else. Definitely worth a looksee and a couple of pics though.

It's iconic! It may not be a big deal for someone living here, but that view of the harbor when…read morewalking up or down is absolutely stunning. It's way better in person than in pictures. Our walking tour started from Blackbeard's Castle. Fortunately, it is much easier walking down than up. They've added more sturdy hand rails which makes it so much safer. It had been closed for a while due to ongoing structural repairs. The Danes constructed it some time in the 1700s. The steps were needed to get from the harbor to the higher parts of Government Hill. The bricks come from the ballast used to balance the weight of cargo in the hull of merchant ships. Many Caribbean structures and even some cities on the US coastal mainland were built with these yellow bricks. They did a good job restoring it while keeping its historical look. It's a cool local experience that shouldn't be missed. A highly recognized landmark in Charlotte Amalie.

Tour guide, Anna Monica Villa, lead us up and down Step Streets like little mountain goats. Her…read morefriendships with neighbors and businesses ensured special access to historic villas, renovated historic hotels and inside the Government House. We learned about St. Thomas history, culture, foliage, and architecture. We ended at a fantastic Italian Restaurant--Virgilios. It was a perfect way to spend our day in Charlotte Amalia! Thank you, Anna Monica.

This is a cool place that has a scenic drive up to it. It is basically a huge sundial in the shape…read moreof two intersecting m's. It's a nice thing to check out and the views are beautiful. There is a trail down to one of the beaches (maybe Isaac bay) that is really not that bad. It starts out a little rocky but it does level off. The views along the walk are gorgeous as well. We did not see any turtles on the beach but it is in a nature preserve area. We did see a hermit crab cross the path in front of us. I would recommend it because it's something unique to see and for the views, plus it's free!!

It was cool to stand so close to the easternmost point in the US. The Millennium Monument is a…read morebeautiful piece of art, and was a fitting piece to celebrate the first place in the US that saw the Year 2000. Cell service is spotty that far east on the island. Although we did not do it, a great experience is to be at Point Udall at sunrise to be among the first in the U.S. to see the new day.

The "Three Queens of the Virgin Islands" statue is located on Government Hill at the foot of the…read morestairs leading down from Blackbeard's Castle. The bronze plaque shows the following incription: "In 1878 three former slave ladies on St. Croix led an insurrection against the Danish Government for improved working and living conditions. During this action, a major portion of Frederiksted was destroyed by fire. This revolt is known today as "FIREBURN" and the ladies are renowned as "Queen Mary, Queen Agnes and Queen Matilda" - The Three Queens of the Virgin Islands." It was cool to see it during Women's History Month. It was also interesting to hear that slavery was abolished in the Danish West Indies back on July 3, 1848, although they were still bound to plantations by yearly contracts. Is that really free? Flash forward to the Fireburn protest after 30 years of contracts. It was led by the Three Queens on Contract Day (October 1, 1878) in St. Croix due to poor working conditions, unfair treatment, and low wages. These ladies are memorialized in this sculpture by Richard Hallier. It depicts Queen Agnes lifting a lantern, Queen Mary holding a torch and a cane knife, and Queen Matilda raising the torch high and strong. A great symbol of strength & resilience! Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to contemplate the image of it. We did get a thorough summary of the significance of this rebellion against the Danes. It's all very meaningful, and a great tribute. I'm so glad that we were able to see it on this beautiful day in Charlotte Amalie.

I've always wondered of what that the 3 queens were ( I've seen the sign by 99 steps and government…read morehill) and didn't know that it was a statute monument that is on the way to Blackbeard's Castle. If you are hiking from 99 steps and government hill this is quite a steep trek. I work out almost every day and this hike always makes me work up a good sweat. You might need to stop to catch your breath for the few moments so you might as well take a look at the monument before heading up to Blackbeard's Castle, it is in a very pretty setting that has grown back after the hurricanes. The reason of why it's called is 3 queens is because of the three women that lead a rebellion during the Danish colonial times due to the mistreatment of plantation workers after slavery was abolished. The women in the statues are holding machetes and torches because they burned down 50 plantations on St. Croix. Overall it's a nice tribute erected by the government and gives travelers a little insight into St. Thomas history. #St.Thomas #USVI

This is a tourist attraction located in the heart of Christiansted. It is very well maintained and…read morehas its own private parking lot, which closes at 4:30. The outdoor attractions however, are accessible 24/7. The site, known as the Gem of the Caribbean, was established in 1952 as the Virgin Islands National Historic site. It was intended to preserve the site history and associated buildings. The site got its new name in 1961. It was the first National Parks Service's properties in the Virgin Islands. The park spans 7 acres and has benches and picnic tables placed along its grounds. You will also find a gazebo and a statue of David Hamilton Jackson, known as Black Moses. The center piece of the site is Fort Christiansted, a bright yellow fort built in 1749 by the Danish. In all there are 5 historical buildings on the site that were constructed between 1740 and 1856 and made of yellow bricks made in Denmark and brought over as the ships' ballast. The buildings are as follows: the Scale House (1856), the Customs House (1841), the Danish West India and Guinea Company Warehouse (1749), the Government House (1747) and the Church of Our Lord Sabbath Steeple Building (1753). The site grounds has tons of informational placards placed around that explains the significance and location of each key building. I believe the only one that you can currently go into is the Fort (You can walk through the Pump House though). Some say you have to pay a fee to visit here. However, I didn't. I just walked right in. It was no staff there and I had to do a self guided tour. But that was cool since they had informational placards all over the place to help guide me. The site has a lot of green space to run around on too. The site is divided into two are that are separated by Hospital Street. There is the large section with a lot of the green space, a gazebo, the Customs House, the Fort, benches and picnic tables. On the other side of the street is a much smaller area with informational signage, a little green space with some benches, the Danish West India and Guinea Company Warehouse, and the Steeple Building. The Scale House is between the 2 sections at the Hospital Street's bend. This is a nice place to visit, especially for the history buffs. It highlights the Danish influence and eco mic structure on the island. It is located in the heart of St Croixs' tourist area. I would probably plan on spending 2 to 3 hours here if you are going to hit all the sites. The buildings and grounds and well preserved and maintained and are definitely worth a visit while on the island. Fun Fact: Alexander Hamilton's mother was imprisoned in the Fort for a few month's Tip: Do not park in the lot after hours. You will more than likely get ticketed, booted and/or towed.

We visited Christiansted National Historic Site, expecting to tour most of the buildings included…read moreat the park site, located at the end of King Street in Christiansted. What we found is that you really can only tour the fort and see the old scale in the scale house. That said, it was a really nice site, well maintained and informative. What I keep finding out on these St. Croix parks is that the info on the website is not correct for the most part. IN the case of this one, they changed the operating horus from 8am to 8:30 am. A little frustrating given the parking hell that is Christiansted. Even though the gate to the parking lot was opened at 8am for an employee, they would not let us in so we had to drive down the road and sit for 30 minutes, then make our way back to the parking lot at 8:30. We still had to wait until someone in our party reminded them to come down and unlock the gate. A little frustrating. Luckily, it was okay as there was a lot less to see at the site than I had expected. The fort is very nicely designed for visitors and information. You can wander all over with a self guided map that goes over the different areas of the fort and what happened in the different locations. There is also some history and interesting info on Alexander Hamilton and his family. Note there are a lot of stairs and uneven walking areas at the fort. It may be challenging for people who have difficulty walking, whether wheelchair bound, on crutches, etc. Overall, it's a really nice site and the staff seemed friendly. I definitely recommend folks visit if they are interested in National Parks, like I am. Also, info for the National Parks Passport Stamp Program: There are three cancellations stamps available: Christiansted National Historic Site, Buck Island, and Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve. Enjoy!