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.

This sculpture is located in a green space on the grounds of the Christiansted National Historic…read moreSite. It is not a very large sculpture. It is basically a bust, covering Jackson from a little above his waist and up to the top of his head. It is on a marble pedestal that has a hard to read inscription. It should have been colored in to make it easier on the eyes. It reads "David Hamilton Jackson, 1884-1956, Judge, Editor, Labor Leader, Black Moses" Jackson was a leader for free press, workers' rights and civil rights in the Danish West Indies (known as St Croix after being sold to the US by Denmark). He is credited with organizing the first labor union in St. Croix and leading a plantation workers strike. He is known as black Moses because of the many people he helped escape their life of slavery. The statue has definitely seen better days. It is in bad shape. The marble pedestal is starting to crack in places and has some bad stains. The bronze bust/statue is showing signs of severe wear and discoloration. I hope they give the statue some TLC very soon. It really needs it. The lawn that that surrounds and that the statue is own is well maintained though. Being on the Site's grounds, there is ample free parking in the lot, but it closes ay 4:30 PM. It is not a very long stop, I would say about 5 to 10 minutes. I suggest making this part of a larger itinerary or planning additional stops such as the other attractions on the Site including the Custom House and Fort. I am glad that I leaned a bit about Jackson though. He sounds like a great guy that is well deserving of all the praise that has been bestowed upon him. Fun Fact: November 1 is David Hamilton Jackson Day, which coincides with the date of the first publication of his newspaper.

This sculpture is the work of local artist Jan Mitchell Larsen. It welcomes the visitors to the…read moreAlmeric L. Christian Federal Building and Courthouse. Mitchell created the sculpture in 1993. The bronze statue depicts an everyday woman in a skirt, belt, shirt, head wrap, and sandals, holding a scale up with her left hand. The statue is on a cement pedestal with a marble top. There is a bronze informational plaque on the front of the pedestal that gives information about the sculpture including the artist, the date it was created and a brief summary. I like that she is not your traditional Lady Justice and how Mitchell Larson puts her own spin on the piece and ditches the formal robe that you will find most other Lady Justices and making her a normal average woman. The statue recently got a facelift from McKay Lodge Art Conservation Laboratory. They reapplied the statue's protective coating so that the bronze of the sculpture would be safeguarded from the harsh elements and also give it a more homogeneous appearance. This is a nice piece, but you probably will not see it unless you have business inside the Federal Courthouse. Parking here can be a bit tricky. If you are able to visit this sculpture, it will probably not be a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. To maximize your time, you may want to consider making this part of a larger itinerary or visit here on your way to another bigger attraction.

Gorgeous view and an easy drive up and lookout point if you aren't mobile enough to enjoy on foot…read more There is a sea turtle reserve trail just down the hill and on the left that was a spectacular hike. No cell service down there and a quarter of a mile area marked "beware of bees".

This is more than just a monument; it is a sundial. Even though it is commonly mistaken for Point…read moreUdall, the Easternmost point in the US. It is not. It is situated behind and above the Point. It was built for the New Year's celebration in 2000 and welcoming of the new millennium. It marks the azimuth of the first United States sunrise of that year and was designed by by Bill Rich. The monument consists of 4 identical triangular pieces sitting up on their back sides with the points pointing up to the sky. They kind of resemble a door stop. They are made from stone and mortar and have a metal pole placed vertically in between the 4 structures. There is a brass information placard on one of the structures that gives some information about the monument. This is an attention getting piece that welcomes you to Point Udall. It is very fitting there and I am glad that I was able to see it. Sadly, the monument (the pole and the stone) has become an object for people to write their names on and graffiti. It could use a little love. There is no designated parking at the site. I, along with all the other visitors just parked along the wall in the circle. There are a few benches across from the monument across from each other and you will see some specular views. I highly recommend checking this place out while you are on the island. The good news is that it is a package deal and you also get to check out Point Udall, both at the very low price of free.

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!

This mural is located at the St Croix Airport. It is a collaborative effort led by Cynthia Hatfield…read morein 2012. Hatfield directed a bunch of local high school in the creation of the mural, which is by the airport's departure area, behind a bench. The mural highlights the island's unique and appealing traits. It depicts the elements of air, water, earth, wind and fire. It has stormy seas, a magical fruit tree with a woman under it telling a story of the Island's past to six children, whimsical figures dancing, a bright sun, a rainbow, rolling hills, two Mocko Jumbies, the Steeple Building, a fire dancer, and a man playing some steel drums making joyous music. It is artistically a very nice piece and shows the pride of those that painted in their island. It is a nice welcome to the island. The colors are very vivid and bright. I really like how it came together. As good as this mural is, you probably will not visit it unless you have business at the airport such as flying in or out, or picking someone up. Either way, this is not a very long stop. Even if you take a load off on the bench in front of it. I was there less than 5 minutes. If you happen to be at the airport, this mural is worth checking out though.

**Point Udall -- Worth the Drive to the Eastern Edge of St. Croix**…read more There are places you visit because they're on the list, and then there are places that become part of how you remember a trip. Point Udall was the latter for me. During my first trip to St. Croix, I was on the island to play bagpipes for the wedding of two friends, but I brought my camera gear along knowing I wanted to spend whatever free time I had photographing the island. Point Udall quickly became one of the places I knew I wanted to experience with a camera in my hands. Located at the eastern end of St. Croix, Point Udall is recognized as the easternmost point of the United States by travel -- and standing there, it genuinely feels like you've reached the edge of something. The drive itself is part of the experience. As you make your way east, the island begins to change. The roads become quieter, development starts disappearing behind you, and the landscape opens into rolling hills, cactus, brush, and uninterrupted views of the Caribbean. By the time you reach the Millennium Monument at the top, there isn't much between you and the horizon. For a photographer, it is an incredible location. I actually made the trip out more than once because I wanted to photograph Point Udall under completely different conditions. At night, away from much of the island's light pollution, the sky becomes the subject. Standing near the eastern edge of St. Croix with the Caribbean almost completely dark around you, the number of stars visible overhead is remarkable. I spent part of one evening there working on astrophotography and capturing the Milky Way -- easily one of the photographic highlights of my trip. Then I came back for sunrise. That may be the best way to experience Point Udall. Arrive while it is still dark and give yourself enough time to simply watch the scene change. What begins as a dark silhouette of hills and ocean slowly gains definition as the first light appears over the horizon. Blues begin to separate from the darkness, the clouds pick up color, and eventually the Caribbean and surrounding hills are illuminated by the morning sun. There is something special about watching a new day begin from a place known for being the easternmost point in the United States. The Millennium Monument itself is impressive, but I would encourage visitors not to make the mistake of simply driving up, taking a quick picture in front of it, and leaving. Walk around. Look back toward the hills. Watch the water. Explore the different perspectives around the monument and along the overlook. If you have a camera, bring a wide-angle lens, but also take some time to put it down and actually take in where you are. There are no elaborate attractions here, and that is part of what makes Point Udall special. It is wind, ocean, stone, sky, and an enormous horizon. A few practical suggestions: bring water, wear decent shoes if you plan to explore beyond the immediate monument area, and expect plenty of sun with very little shade during the day. If you're coming for sunrise, arrive earlier than you think you need to. Photographers should also bring their widest lens and, if possible, a tripod. The location has tremendous potential for landscapes, sunrise, long exposures, and night-sky photography. Most importantly, don't rush it. St. Croix gave me plenty to photograph during my time on the island, from historic streets and architecture to beaches, landscapes, and people. But some of my favorite frames from the entire trip came from standing on this far eastern corner of the island, waiting for the light. Point Udall is absolutely worth the drive. And if I'm fortunate enough to return to St. Croix, I'll make that drive east again -- camera in hand.

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!!