U.S. Virgin Island tourism boom rekindles Danish ties

Travel

Danish travelers are flocking to the U.S. Virgin Islands, reviving ties between their home country and the islands their government sold the islands to the United States in 1917.

A man climbs the famed "99 Steps" made with bricks that were originally used as ballast on Danish ships on a hill overlooking Charlotte Amalie harbor in St. Thomas. The Virgin Islands spent more than two centuries as a Danish colony and slave trading port, a rich and bloody period whose history is being explored by an increasing number of Danish tourists.

The sugar mill that stands next to the pink Main House at the Buccaneer Resort is one of many that dot the rolling green hillsides of St. Croix. The 300-year-old manor house constructed by Charles Martel, Knight of Malta, in 1653 was restored and became the original part of the Buccaneer, which was opened in 1948 by the Armstrong family who still run the resort.

The Government House on King Street in downtown Christiansted, St. Croix.

St. George Village Botanical Garden in St. Croix is a National Historic District. The site was formerly a sugar cane plantation and ruins as well as restored structures are on the grounds. In the foreground is an agave plant, which is indigenous to St. Croix.

The waterfront in Christiansted, St. Croix, is popular with shoppers and those wanting to take a cruise.

Six flags fly at the historic Cruzan Rum Distillery in St. Croix.

The bright yellow Fort Christiansvaern, with cannons trained on the harbor entrance, is part of the Christiansted National Historic Site on the Christiansted waterfront in St. Croix.

From the North Shore Road in St. Croix, you can see the area where Christopher Columbus landed in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World.

Turtle Bay, one of seven beaches in the Caneel Bay Resort on St. John.

The Ritz-Carlton is situated on 30 acres at the east end of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A Caneel Bay Resort boat takes people from the resort on St. John to and from Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.

Rain clouds approach Saltpond Bay on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands in December 2000. With a large portion of land and water protected within the boundaries of a national park, St. John remains perhaps the most pristine of the Virgin Islands.

French, American, U.S.Virgin Islands, and the Danish flag fly at the Frenchtown Marina in Frenchtown, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

A couple drinks white wine at the end of the day on a beach near Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

1/14

A man climbs the famed "99 Steps" made with bricks that were originally used as ballast on Danish ships on a hill overlooking Charlotte Amalie harbor in St. Thomas. The Virgin Islands spent more than two centuries as a Danish colony and slave trading port, a rich and bloody period whose history is being explored by an increasing number of Danish tourists.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Milton girls lacrosse aims to capture 19th state title in 21 years

Alerts

PHOTOS: Milton girls lacrosse trying for another state championship

PHOTOS: U.S. Rep. David Scott remembered for faith, service

PHOTOS: Rep. David Scott lies in state in Atlanta Capitol

PHOTOS: Sanford Stadium hosts second concert in its history