Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Conservation
  • Privacy
  • Travel Writing Competition 2025
  • Reviews
  • Travel Resources
  • T&C
  • Contact Us
  • Conservation
  • Privacy
  • Travel Writing Competition 2025
  • Reviews
  • Travel Resources
  • T&C
  • Contact Us
Pure Travel
Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Destination Inspiration

Must-see Ruins And Historical Sites To Visit In St John

  • February 15, 2023
  • Robert

When you think of St. John, what comes to mind?

Is it the sandy beaches? The crystal-clear waters? The serene atmosphere? Or is it something else entirely? Something more historical and mysterious than even the most beautiful places on Earth can offer.

If you’re looking for a new adventure or just want to add another spot to your bucket list, St John has many ruins and historical sites that are sure to delight—and perhaps even surprise uses of interstate rest area.

Here are 5 of the must-see ruins and historical sites:

  1. The Ruins of Gallows Bay Plantation

These ruins are located on the island of St John and they were built in 1776 by Danish settlers who had come from Denmark to work on sugar plantations here in the Caribbean Sea area known as The West Indies or West Indies for short! During those times when slavery was legal here in this region during those days back then before 1800s slavery ended then as well as many other things that happened back then it seems like there were many changes happening in history during those times too back then!

2. Ruins Of Fort Christian

The oldest building in St. John, the Ruins of Fort Christian is the perfect place to learn about the island’s history and its past inhabitants. The ruins were built by the Danes in 1672 and were used as a trading post until 1867 when it was abandoned due to damage caused by an earthquake. Nowadays, you can visit this historical site for free and take part in guided tours if you want to learn more about what life was like on St. John during its heyday!

3. The Cruz Bay Historic District

If you’re looking for something more interactive than just taking photos of ruins and buildings, then spending some time in Cruz Bay is definitely a must. The area has been a hub for commerce since it was first settled back in 1733, so there are plenty of shops and restaurants to explore alongside all of your other activities here too!

4. Francis Drake Channel/Fortress Of Freedom (on the island of St. Croix)

This historic site is located on the western side of St. Croix, where you can see the ruins of a 19th-century fort that was built to protect the island from attack. The fort was named after Sir Francis Drake, who visited the island in 1595. The location offers stunning views of the Caribbean Sea and is open daily from 8am until 5pm (except for holidays).

5. Wallblake House Museum And Visitor Center (in Frederiksted)

This museum is located in Frederiksted, a town on the east end of St. Croix that was founded in 1753 by Danish settlers. The museum offers tours of its collection of artifacts from around the world and includes displays about slavery and colonial life on the island during this time period as well as information about its history since then including more recent events such as hurricanes hitting the island over time (such as Hurricane Hugo). It’s open daily from 9am until 4 pm except for major holidays so visitors should check their website before going so they don’t miss out!

Final Thoughts

St John is a beautiful island with many great things to offer. The ruins and historical sites listed above are just some of the many that you can visit during your stay. If you have time, we highly recommend our top ten list. We hope this guide has been helpful and that you enjoy your time on St John!

Author Bio-Thomas Bouve has had an intensive IT career in innovative transportation projects and now works at Rest Stops Ahead. During a 4-year tour of duty in the Navy, LCDR Bouve received critical computer training which he directly applied to various logistics programs. After his military service, Tom was appointed Chief, Research and Analysis Division within the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Share
Tweet
Related Topics
  • st john vacation
  • st john visit
Robert

Robert has worked in travel for over 35 years, running tour operators in Pakistan, Italy & the UK, writing guide books and articles and running a conservation charity that fights species extinction and habitat loss worldwide. He's trekked coast to coast across Borneo, climbed to 6,500 metres in the Himalayas, travelled the the length of the Silk Road and been chased out of a bar in Lesotho by a Warthog.

Previous Article
  • Destination Inspiration

Choose Boggy Creek Airboats for the best and most unique Florida experience!

  • February 15, 2023
  • Jules
View Post
Next Article
  • Destination Inspiration

Discover The Caribbean’s 3 Most Exclusive Getaways

  • February 16, 2023
  • Jules
View Post
You May Also Like
yacht hire greece
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Lifestyle

The Ultimate Yacht Charter Guide for Greece, Summer 2025

  • Jules
  • June 24, 2025
best spanish shoulder season destinations
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

The top destinations to visit during shoulder season for Spain’s sweet spots

  • Robert
  • June 23, 2025
Luoyang Buddha
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Chongqing & Luoyang: From Buddhist Caves to Hot Pot Streets

  • Jules
  • June 20, 2025
Lancashire
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Why Should you Choose Lancashire for a Relaxing UK Holiday?

  • Jules
  • June 18, 2025
Dubrovnik
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Great Holiday Destinations

One Night, One Ship – Memories in Dubrovnik That Last a Lifetime

  • Jules
  • June 17, 2025
where to go in India
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Where to Go in India: A Guide for First-Time Visitors

  • Jules
  • June 16, 2025
foodie things to do ion Bologna
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Lifestyle

Best Foodie Things to Do in Bologna and Modena

  • Robert
  • June 13, 2025
Munich
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Visiting Munich: Everything You Need to Know

  • Jules
  • June 12, 2025
Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Pure Travel
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}