Admittedly, St. Thomas isn’t known for its museums. Which stinks because St. Thomas history is jam packed with strange, unique and ruthless characters and events. There are a few museums in St. Thomas worth visiting if you would like to see some of the artifacts and learn about the island’s wild history. You can see exhibits that include rare coins, maps, artwork, photos and cultural artifacts. Each museum below can be explored in an hour or two and you could go through the entire list in a morning or afternoon. You can also jump on a tour that will visit a few of the museums on our Historic Walking Tours.
This row house is the former slave and servant’s quarters for a grand estate located in downtown Charlotte Amalie.
There is a craft distillery located within the grounds which only adds to the overall experience of this museum. Walking throught the doors will feel like walking back in time to the age of rum’s golden years.
Old barrels line the beautiful brick and stone walls. You’ll have several hosts throughout the slave house that will share with you the history of the island’s rum past. Besides the distillery the other rooms and walls have old maps and artifacts from both famous and infamous folks.
The original owner of the slave quarters was a wealthy merchant family. This is a handwritten family tree with a coat of arms drawn beautifully dating back hundreds of years.
Behind the home is a tropical garden with a mini-arboretum with plaques discussing various events, peoples and plants and their roles in the island’s culture.
You can sit and relax inside the museum or outside in the garden. There are drinks for purchase and a gift shop for souvenirs.
They offer guided tours rum tastings and mixology classes. Plenty of alcohol is included.
The French Heritage Museum is a small museum that includes items from the island’s fishing community of French descent. A wonderfully vibrant sub-culture in St. Thomas were the French fisherman and farmers that moved to St. Thomas. You’ll see old photos, fishing gear and bric-a-brac.
You’ll find the museum in Frenchtown, just a short ride or walk from downtown Charlotte Amalie.
Furniture, Pre-Columbian artifacts, old photos and books are part of the inventory at the Historical Trust Museum. Free entry and you can peruse the exhibits in this single-room museum. The staff there is ready to answer any questions.
Located in the heart of Charlotte Amalie, you’ll definitely want to make a stop here.
Located just outside of Charlotte Amalie in Havensight you’ll find the Pirate’s Museum. They charge $16 for adults and $12 for kids.
The museum includes treasures found on various shipwrecks and the exhibits include coins, bottles and other artifacts pulled from the sea.
You can find some amazing and charming history located in our museums. Remember, it doesn’t always have to be about beaches and boats. And while St. Thomas might not have the Louvre, but we do have a few gems worth a visit.
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