St. Thomas, USVI 4

The islands were poorly managed by the Dutch.

A local islander, David Hamilton Jackson, persuaded the Danish king to allow freedom of the press in 1915. He started the first newspaper known as The Herald. He then organized labor unions among the islanders aiming to improve their working conditions.

A view of Point Pleasant in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
photo by Mike Lewis (pescatello) used under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License (CC BY 2.0)

The US Virgin Islands now have an annual celebration in honor to legacy of David Hamilton Jackson. November 1st is a celebrated local holiday known as "Liberty Day", "David Hamilton Jackson Day" or "Bull & Bread Day".

Enid M. Baa Public Library & Archives in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Enid M. Baa Public Library & Archives: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI
photo by vlasta2 used under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License (CC BY 2.0)

The United States purchased St Thomas, St John and St Croix from Denmark in a defensive strategy to control the Caribbean and Panama Canal during the first world war. The transfer occurred March 31, 1917. There is a US Virgin Island public holiday every year on this date called transfer day in celebration of the transfer of the islands in 1917.

Hillside homes in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
photo by Daniel Lobo (Daquella manera)
used under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License (CC BY 2.0)

David Hamilton Jackson was an early campainer for US citenzenship for the Virgin Islanders, once the transfer of the island occured. The residents of the three islands were granted U.S. citizenship in 1927.

In 1931 the U.S. Dept of interior took over administrative duties of the islands. The passage of the Revised Organic Act of 1954 allowed for the formation of a local governmental body, which was dominated by the mainland political parties until 1970, when full local rule was achieved.

Magen's bay as seen from the famous Drake's Seat in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands
photo by Hugh Millward used under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License (CC BY 2.0)

The U.S. Virgin Islands is the only place in the United States where we drive on the left hand side of the road. This came from when the Danish ruled the islands before 1917, and they drove on the left hand side. However most cars are imported from mainland U.S. and therefore the steering is on the left hand side of the car. ... hmmmm ... If you are from the US mainland, be VERY careful if you drive here. The unfamiliarity with left side driving, along with poorly maintained, curvy and hilly roads, may make for quite dangerous driving conditions, especially at night!

A view of the Charlotte Amelie coast, St. Thomas Island, US Virgin Islands
photo by Hugh Millward used under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License (CC BY 2.0)

Oahu * Maui * "Big Island" of Hawaii * Kauai * Molokai * Lanai
St Thomas * St John * St Croix * Key Largo * Key West * Puerto Rico * Guam