Seven Arches Museum

Seven Arches Museum Located just minutes from Main Street in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, the Seven Arches Museum offers a dramatic view of the Charlotte Amalie harbor and the cruise ship terminal.  As you enter the museum grounds the first thing that you see is the "welcoming arms" staircase and the many beautiful flowers and many small humming birds and "yellow breasts" which are everywhere in the courtyard.  Make sure to see the collection of Danish West Indian coins, stationary and Royal Copanhagen dishes that were once used by the homes owners.  The house is painstakenly decorated as it would have been back in the turn of the century.  Visitors are urged to relax and take a break from the hurried pace of the mainland and appreciate the sweet sounds, smells and tastes that the islands have to offer.	Bluebeard's Castle On the hillside behind the Charlotte Amalie harbor is Bluebeard's Castle which was built around 1688 and overlooks the entire town below.  The Seven Arches Museum is a two-story yellow stone, brick and coral structure which serves as an excellent living example of 18th century Danish West Indian architecture.  Built in the late 1700's and named for the seven arches that support the home's main staircase, this is the only private residence museum in St. Thomas that is open to the public.  Balast-stone bricks, gun turret slots in the walls, letters, pictures and postcards from the 1800's.  The museum also boasts one of the few remaining outdoor kitchens in the Virgin Islands.
Fort Christian Three of the oldest and most prominent structures in Charlotte Amalie is Fort Christian, Blackbeard's Castle and Bluebeard's Castle which together form a triangle with Government Hill located in the middle.   Some suggest that this was done as a form of protection with three lookouts and fortresses armed with cannons ready and able to protect any one area that may be under attack from pirates. One of the must see attractions at the Seven Arches Museum is the large West Indian mahogony canopy bed and the century plant Christmas tree.  These are but two of the many impressive items in the museum's inventory.  Walking into Seven Arches is like walking back into 18th century Danish West Indies, a time when horse-drawn carriages and gas-lamps were the norm.	Blackbeard's Castle Located on the Charlotte Amalie hillside is Blackbeard's Castle which was built around 1678 and is claimed to be the former home once of the notorious pirate Edward Teach better known as Blackbeard.  The "castle" sits on the hillside directly behind Government Hill and to the north of the Charlotte Amalie Harbor.    Upon entering the Seven Arches Museum you will be guided on a 15 to 30 minute tour of the house and courtyard.  Your will learn about the island's history as well as the history of some of it's most important leaders and families.  The curator, Barbara Demaras does all of the tours herself and makes sure to cater her tour to your specific taste and is a wealth of knowledge about the Virgin Islands history.  This is your opportunity to learn about the people, culture, music, plants and food of the islands.  Its like tasting spoon full of West Indian food, culture and history all in one delicious scoop.
Annaberg Plantation Virgin Islands History Timeline: * Christoper Columbus discovered the Virgin Islands on his second voyage to the New World in 1493.  *  Six different countries claim an ownership interest in the islands. * Slave revolt in 1733 due to harsh living conditions. The picture above is of the mill on Annaberg Plantation on   St. John where the rebellion took place. * Slavery was abolished in the Danish West Indies in 1848. * The United States purchased the Danish West Indies from Denmark in 1916 for $25,000,000. * In 1937 Virgin Islanders granted U.S. citizenship. * During the 1950's the Virgin Islands becomes a major tourist destination in the Caribbean after the embargo of Cuba. * Two week long Carnival celebration becomes one of the largest inthe Caribbean. *  Professional athletes like Emile Griffith- boxer, Alvin Mc Bean, Elrod Hendricks and Horace Clark - baseball players bring some recognition to the islands. * NBA basketball superstar Tim Duncan brings national name recognition and publicity to the Virgin Islands	99 Steps The "99 Steps" located on Government Hill was constructed in the same way as many of the local buildings.  The steps were built using balast stones that were carried aboard ships traveling to the Virgin Islands.  Upon reaching the Virgin Islands, the balsat stones were removed and cargo in the form of sugar and molasses was loaded. The Seven Arches Museum was home to several of the island's most prominant families like the Bonellis, the De Windts, the Schaltenbrandts and the Corneiros.  From 1906 to 1965 the Seven Arches Museum was known simply as the "Corneiro House".  Fermin Corneiro and his son Conrad Corneiro purchased the home in 1906 and kept it in the family for 60 years.   Seven Arches also houses several family heirlooms like the family's jewelry making tools from the 1800's, several Danish West Indian coins, old letters and stamps from the 1800's as well as a large collection of Royal Copanhagen dishes.