St. Thomas

St. Thomas

Overview

St. Thomas was settled around 1500 BC by the Ciboney people. Over the next few millennia various other indigenous groups inhabited the island.

The island remained private to the indigenous peoples until sighted by Columbus in 1493 on his second journey through the new world.

Like the other US Virgin Islands, the Dutch West India company began resettling the island in the mid-17th century. Sugarcane plantations were the main economic force on the island for throughout the 18th century.

Like its sister islands, St. Thomas was acquired by the United States in 1917 from the Dutch.  St. Thomas now houses the territory capital and port Charlotte Amalie. As of 2010, St. Thomas contained roughly half the entire population of the US Virgin Islands.

Things to Do on the Island

people scubba diving in the US virgin islands at coral world St. Thomas

Coral World Ocean Park

If close encounters of the animal kind are your thing, check out the Coral World Ocean Park, voted “Best Tourist Attraction & Eco Tourism Activity” by the V.I. Daily News.

people scubba diving in the US virgin islands at coral world St. Thomas

ARC Vodka

Gracious Sailing loves a good bottle of Vodka, so make sure to check out St. Thomas’s own distillery, ARC Vodka!

people scubba diving in the US virgin islands at coral world St. Thomas

Fishing Waters

St. Thomas offers some of the best attractions in the entire Virgin Islands! The island is known for its incredible fishing waters, so finding a nice spot to cast a line is never far away!

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