In 1733, the Danish West Indies Company purchased Saint Croix from France. After King Frederick secured full control in 1754, the Danes began constructing a trapezoidal defense to protect the deep-water port. Fort Frederik was finished in 1760. This battery of cannons still points toward the harbor. The Danish fortress never encountered a battle. However, Frederiksfort still holds an important role in the history of Saint Croix. In 1848, the emancipation proclamation was read here. In 1917, a ceremony marked the transfer of Saint Croix to the United States. Fort Frederik is now a fascinating museum.
