Skytsborg
| Skytsborg | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| National Register of Historic Places | |||
| National Historic Landmark | |||
 Skytsborg (2013) |
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| location | Charlotte Amalie in Saint Thomas , US Virgin Islands | ||
| Coordinates | 18 ° 20 '37.4 " N , 64 ° 55' 46.6" W | ||
| Built | 1679 | ||
| NRHP number | 91001844 | ||
| The NRHP added | December 20, 1991 | ||
Skytsborg , also known as Blackbeard's Castle , is a Grade II listed watchtower in Charlotte Amalie on Saint Thomas , US Virgin Islands .
The fortified watchtower was built in 1679 by the Danish colonial empire on a slightly egg-shaped base with a maximum width of 6 m and a height of almost 9.50 m. Skytsborg served as an outer defensive structure for Fort Christian and originally had an open fourth floor as a lookout point, which was armed with a cannon. This was against French raids, as happened on Saint Thomas in 1678, and against possible revolts by slaves . The name Blackbeard's Castle comes from the falsified legend that the pirate Blackbeard is said to have used the tower.
In the 19th century the tower was used as a private observatory and the top floor was covered with a wooden roof. This structure was removed around the middle of the 20th century in order to clearly emphasize its historical function as a watchtower. Skytsborg is probably the oldest unaltered structure on the island.
On December 20, 1991, Skytsborg, largely preserved in its original form, was added to the United States ' National Register of Historic Places as a monument . Blackbeard's Castle has also been a National Historic Landmark since October 12, 1994 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Mark R. Barnes: Skytsborg (Blackbeard's Castle): National Historic Landmark Nomination . In: National Register of Historic Places database . National Park Service , December 9, 1993, accessed June 18, 2016 (English, 976 kB).
- ↑ Skytsborg in the National Register Information System . National Park Service , accessed June 18, 2016
- ↑ Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: Virgin Islands (PDF). National Park Service , accessed June 18, 2016