Rumor has it that pirates buried fortunes throughout this Caribbean area. Today's island visitors find treasures of greater value than gold and silver. Awaiting discovery are a wealth of beaches, coral reefs, plantation ruins, and diverse plants and animals. This national park is indeed a treasure trove filled to the brim. You will be rewarded!

The Island of St. John
Throughout history, people seeking paradise on Earth have traveled-or dreamed of traveling- to a tropical island where they could find beauty , refreshment, and refuge. Today, just over half of the small rugged volcanic island of St. John is protected as a natural paradise within the Virgin Islands National Park. Among the earthly delights of this faraway place are tropical forests, wildlife, wildflowers, and breathtaking views. Just offshore, dazzling natural riches are preserved within the park's marine areas. Combined, the land and waters of St. John are, in many ways, a world apart.
 

St. John's Historical Heritage
The nearly five centuries of the Virgin Islands cultural history is as colorful and enthralling as a carnival parade. Humans inhabited the area long before Columbus' arrival. Archeological discoveries show that Indians, migrating northward in canoes from South America, lived on St. John as early as 710 BC. They hunted and gathered foods primarily from the sea.

Columbus may have named the Islands, but no lasting settlements were in place until the 1720's. Attracted by the lucrative prospects of cultivating sugar cane, the Danes took formal possession in 1694 and raised Danish colors in 1718, thereby establishing the first permanent European settlement on St. John at Estate Carolina in Coral Bay.

Rapid expansion followed, and by 1733 virtually all of St. John was taken up by 109 cane and cotton plantations. As the plantation economy grew, so did the demand for slaves. Many who were captured in West Africa were of tribal nobility and former slave owners themselves. In 1733, they revolted and an island-wide massacre of families occurred. Six months passed before the rebellion was quelled.

The emancipation of slaves in 1848 was one of several factors which led to the decline of St. John's plantations. The population plummeted, and by the early 20th century cattle and subsistence farming and bay rum production were the main industries.

For more information on this period, see A Documentary History of the Cinnamon Bay Plantation 1718 - 1917 .

The United States purchased the islands in 1917, and by the 1930s the seed of a tourism industry had sprouted. Word spread quickly of this untouched Caribbean paradise. In 1956, Rockefeller interests purchased land and transferred it to the Federal Government to be designated a National Park. In 1962, boundaries were enlarged to include 5,650 acres of submerged lands.

Today the Park works closely with local and Caribbean-wide conservation-minded interests to preserve the area's natural and cultural resources. In recognition of the significance of its natural resources, the Park also is part of the international network of biosphere reserves. As the future unfolds, both the Park and the Territory will strive to ensure the preservation of America's Paradise.
 

America's Paradise
Each of the 3 main U.S. Virgin Islands has its share of tropical pleasures. St. John, where Virgin Islands National Park is located, is the least developed. Next door is the bustling tourist Mecca of St. Thomas, with its magnificent cruise-ship harbor of Charlotte Amalie. On distant St. Croix life moves at a leisurely pace amid quaint towns, rolling hills, and pastoral landscapes.

Getting Here
Major airlines fly from the U.S. mainland to St. Thomas and St. Croix; flights also land in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where connecting flights can be taken. Many cruise lines visit the islands.

Area Services and Accommodations
Car and Jeep rentals are available on the islands. Taxis and safari buses operate from Charlotte Amalie to Red Hook on St. Thomas. Land, sea, air , and underwater tours are given, and boats and snorkeling and scuba gear may be rented. Other major services, including medical care, are available. Lodging ranges from campgrounds to luxury hotels; make reservations well in advance. The peak visitor season is December through April.