Much of the Caribbean, including St. Thomas Island, was first inhabited by native tribes when Columbus’ expedition arrived in 1493. The Spanish acquisition of St. Thomas Island was more de jure than de facto, as the seventeenth century saw a replacement of the Spanish by the British in many territories. The Danish were the most influential on St. Thomas Island as the small Caribbean territory became a central point of the New World’s trade while Charlotte Amolie specifically, and St. Thomas Island generally saw a period of economic boom.

The history of the Virgin Islands started with Christopher Columbus’ second voyage in 1493. He sighted St. Croix (near St. Thomas Island) first which he named Santa Cruz and claimed it for Spain. He then proceeded to sail further north where he found St. Thomas Island and others and christened them “Las Islas Virgenes” or the Virgin Islands.

Sir Francis Drake, an English navigator and infamous plunderer of Spanish galleons, sailed through the sea passageway separating the British and American Virgin Islands and which is today known as the Sir Francis Drake Channel. The famed Englishman reportedly watched the Spanish Armada sail by as his ships in the sanctuary of St. Thomas Island along Magen's Bay. During the late 1600’s, St. Thomas Island was known as a pirate’s den. The proximity of St. Thomas island to the major trade routes, numerous safe passages and availability of supplies made conditions for piracy ideal here. It is thought that pirates made port in the Virgin Islands to repair and supply their vessels and squander their booty on rum and flesh. Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, is said to have sipped rum laced with gunpowder from his stronghold at Blackbeard’s Tower. It is rumored that he carried six pistols and wore burning matches in his hair.

In the 1660’s, various European powers (Holland, France, England, Spain, Denmark & the Knights of Malta) all wanted to possess the Virgin Islands but in 1671 it was Denmark that clearly ruled St. Thomas Island. Denmark established the first permanent settlement there and by 1718 they expanded to St. John. A fort was constructed in Coral Bay on St. John, one of the safest harbors in the Caribbean. In 1733, Denmark purchased St. Croix from France and united the three Virgin Islands of today.

Throughout the 8th century, the islands prospered with sugar plantations and St. Thomas Island became a major emporium until 1848 when Denmark abolished slavery.

The United States bought the St. Thomas Island and the others in 1917, as part of a military defense strategy for $25 million but it was not until 1927 that the residents of St. Thomas Island were granted U.S. citizenship.