A few years ago we started a quest to visit every state house / Capitol in the United States. Eventually we figured out that US territories have state houses too, so added the St Thomas state house, Puerto Rico state house and the other territories. Read on to find out more about the history of St. Thomas, its state house and the Liberty Bell replica in Charlotte Amalie (which is the capital of the US Virgin Islands)
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Table of contents
St. Thomas didn’t start with a State House
Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine St. Thomas without its iconic State House but we Americans are relatively new to the island. Habitation started long before the Europeans “discovered” it. We have to dig deeper to understand more of this Caribbean island. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, understanding its background is a must.
Caribbean Nomads and Farmers
Ciboney: Cave Dwellers
As far as we know, Ciboney people were the first ones to inhabit the island of St. Thomas. They were nomads and we don’t know much about them. The name Ciboney comes from the Arawak term for cave dweller, and many of the Cuban Ciboney appear to have lived in caves at least part of the time.
Arawak (Lokono): Farmers, Fishers and Duck Hunters
The first farmers on the island called themselves Lokono (literally “the people”). In addition to agriculture they hunted and fished for food. Their way of duck hunting was genius.
The Lokono first let a number of calabashes, a tropical American fruit, float on the river. Then, he waited until the ducks got used to these fruits and considered them harmless objects. Once that happened, a Lokono male placed a calabash over his head and slipped into the water silently. Then, when he neared the duck, he pulled its legs until the bird drowned and died before putting it in a bag and taking it away.
Caribs and Arawaks – History, Lifestyle, & Columbus’ Lies About Them
Caribs (Kalinago): Cannibals?
Meanwhile a group of more aggressive people moved in from the main land of South America. Though Columbus considered them cannibals, they only ate a small quantity of human flesh, usually in rituals before going to war. Doing so they could assume the bravery of their enemies and deceased heroes. Seems like reasonable thinking in the context of their scientific knowledge.
The Europeans arrive
Columbus and The Dutch
After Columbus claimed St Thomas for Spain, the Dutch were the first Europeans to settle on the island. They liked the strategic position approximately halfway between the Dutch colonies in South America (now Suriname) and the most important Dutch settlement in North America, New Amsterdam (currently New York City).
Danish Slave Traders
In 1666, the Danish conquered the island and took over the government of the island. Sadly, they made a lot of money from the slave trade. Actually, for some time, the largest slave auctions in the world were held on St. Thomas…
Taphus: Beer Drinkers from Denmark
At first, the Danish named St Thomas capital ‘Taphus’ for its many beer halls. Taphus is Danish and translates to ‘beer house’, ‘beer hall’, or (most literally) ‘tap house’. In 1691 they decided to name the town after Charlotte Amalie in honor of Danish King Christian V’s wife instead.
A few hundred years later, the United Stated called the city St. Thomas. Finally, in 1936, the US reverted its name to Charlotte Amalie
St Thomas Capitol Building
Let us dive into the history about the building and its Liberty Bell replica. Both are standing tall as symbols of the island’s rich history and culture.
During the Danish Period
In 1828, this was a wooden building to serve as a Danish police barrack next to Fort Christian. Almost half a century later, in 1874, they replaced it with the current structure. On the building, you can still see the Roman numerals MDCCCLXXIV (1874) and the Danish coat-of-arms crest.
“CAPITOL BUILDING |
Historic Plaque at the St Thomas Capitol Building
Built in 1874 to replace a wood structure, this neo-classical building served as a military barracks for Fort Christian. It later housed the Charlotte Amalie High School, and today the Virgin Islands Legislature. A grand staircase with wrought iron railing leads
up to the main level. This was the site of the transfer of the Territory from Denmark to the United States in 1917.
The site features mahogany trees and the sea waves. crashing at the gun battery along the shore. ST. THOMAS / ST. JOHN HISTORIC Society
As the seat of government for the Danish West Indies, the State House played a crucial role in the colony’s administration. The building survived many natural disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes, as well as political upheavals, such as the labor riots of 1878. Three women, Mary, Agnes, and Mathilda, known as the rebel queens, were especially active in the rebellion. Today, they are considered heroines in the islands.
25 Million Dollar Later: Transfer to the USA
March 31, 1917 Denmark ceded / sold Danish West Indies to the United States. At that moment Saint Thomas, Saint John and Saint Croix became the U.S. Virgin Islands, in exchange for twenty-five million dollars in gold. The islands represented a much needed foothold in the Caribbean for the American navy, and as a base to guard the Panama Canal.
The official transfer site was the building that now is the US Virgin Islands Capitol building.
After transfer: Still Driving on the Left…
The United States Virgin Islands is the only place under United States jurisdiction where the rule of the road is to drive on the left. This was inherited from what was the Danish practice at the time of the American acquisition in 1917. No idea why it was the Danish practice, since mainland Denmark had switched to driving on the right in 1793.
Charlotte Amalie High School
At first it simply was “High School”, because it was the first public high school opened on the island. Later it was renamed to Charlotte Amalie High School. Until 1955, the high school was right here in the Capitol Building, but they had to move out once the US Virgin Islands got their own legislature.
1955: The First US Virgin Islands Legislature
After being administered by the US Navy for many years, in 1955 the US Virgin islands created its own Legislature. They only have a Senate, no House, similar to Nebraska, Guam and the District of Columbia. At first there were 11 senators, but in 1966 they increased it to 15.
St Thomas Capitol Building Today
Today, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands is a territorial legislative body with the same rights and powers comparable to that of many state legislatures within the United States. There are 15 senators, each serving two-year terms.
Although Virgin Islanders are natural-born citizens of the United States, they can not vote in the Presidential elections. In addition, they don’t have a representative in the US Senate and only a non-voting member in the US House.
The Liberty Bell Replica
Before visiting the New Hampshire State House, we had no clue that there are full size Liberty Bell Replica’s all over the USA. But after that visit, we found out that they were cast as part of a ‘Save For Your Independence’ savings bond drive and there are 57 of them, usually close to the state house or capitol building.
Now we are on a quest to visit all of those full size Liberty Bell replicas.
The plaque describes the importance of this Liberty Bell:
In standing before this symbol you have the opportunity to dedicate yourself as did our founding fathers, to the principles of the individual freedom for which our nation stands.
Liberty bell replica in Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Every of these Liberty Bells has a number, showing the order in which they were cast in a bell foundry in Annency-le-Vieux, France. The number of the St Thomas one is 51.
So nice to be able to touch this Liberty Bell, unlike the original one in Pennsylvania. And good to see that the Treasury Department did include the U.S. Virgin Islands in their distribution of the replicas.
Conclusion St Thomas Capitol
The St. Thomas State House is a treasured landmark and cultural institution. It stands as a testament to the island’s rich history and unique identity. In addition, it is the US Capitol building with the best view, looking out over the Caribbean blue waters of the Harbor of Charlotte Amalie.
When you find yourself on St Thomas on a cruise stop or for other reasons, go visit this building and the Liberty Bell Replica in Freedom Park. Enjoy the views over the harbor, take some pictures with the gun battery and when you get hungry, go get some curried goat or other delicacies at Gladys’ Cafe.
Have you visited St Thomas? What was your experience? Please share in the comments.
Other State Houses You Should Visit
- Ten Surprising New Hampshire State House Facts New Hampshire people are cheapskates!
- Ten Surprising Vermont State House Facts Discover ancient fossils;
- The Maine State House With bells on;
- The Massachusetts State House Where the Boston Italian North End was born;
- The Old State House in Boston, site of the Boston Massacre.
- Connecticut Capitol Fun Facts Home of the so-called “Black Law”;
- Rhode Island State House: Ten Surprising Facts Discover its Dutch history;
- New York State Capitol. An expensive boondoggle;
- Alaska Capitol. Which animal guards it?
- Washington State Capitol. Women’s suffrage for the win!
- Breaking news: why Puerto Rico has a State House of its own!
- The US Virgin Islands have a Capitol Building in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Voted the state Capitol building with the best view!
- Get inspired by our Travel Quests and start your own!
Pin St Thomas Capitol Building and Liberty Bell
