Saint Thomas Overview, Facts, Vacation Information of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Yachts dot the harbor in the ultra-chic U.S. Virgin Island of Saint Thomas.
Mike Bowler

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Nicknamed “Rock City” by locals, St. Thomas is an island and popular cruise ship port in the Caribbean Sea. St. Thomas is one of three major islands—aside from St. Croix and St. John—that make up the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean are found along St. Thomas including Magens Bay Beach, which is ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

Prior to its recognition as a top beach destination, St. Thomas was dependent on slave trade during the 1600s, which mainly took place in the island’s capital, Charlotte Amalie between 1650 and 1714. King Frederick of Denmark later declared Charlotte Amalie a free port.

Several ancient buildings are found in the St. Thomas capital, including Fort Christian, the oldest standing structure in the U.S. Virgin Islands that was built by the Danish and was primarily a government building in the 1600s. Blackbeard’s Castle, named after the English pirate Edward Teach (who went by the name Blackbeard), initially served as a watchtower.

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