Fort Frederik

Fort Frederik, which was constructed in 1760, is reported to be the first to salute the newly founded United States flag. Governor-General Peter von Scholten read a proclamation liberating the island's slaves from here in 1848. Today, the property is home to a modest museum.

The red and white Fort Frederik, a National Historic Landmark, was built in the 1750s to fight off pirates. It's a great place to go if you want to understand about the importance of the United States of America in world history. The fort fired the first salute to the fledgling nation of the United States of America from foreign land in 1776. The salute of Old Glory displayed aboard an American brigantine in Frederiksted harbour was a violation of Denmark's neutrality laws, but the islands had assisted British colonists in America in sealing a friendship between the two countries, therefore the salute was appropriate. On July 3rd, 1848, Danish Governor Peter Von Scholten liberated the slaves from this fort. A museum and an art gallery are located within the fort.

Fort Frederik (also known as Frederiksfort) is most famous for being the site of a historic event. 8,000 enslaved people marched through Frederiksted streets to this fort in 1848 to demand their release. You can discover more about the emancipation rally and the "triangular trade," a transportation route that transported enslaved people between Europe, Africa, and the New World, during your visit to this historical site.

Location: P488+3HW, Frederiksted, St Croix 00840, United States Virgin Islands