Fort Willoughby (Hassel Island, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virginia)
Hassel Island, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas · Virginia
History & Significance
Originally called Prince Frederik's Battery, it was built by the government of the Danish West Indies in 1777-1780 on the southeastern end of the peninsula known at that time as Estate Orkanhullet (Hurricane Hole), now Hassel Island. Planning for construction began in 1767, when a battery of six 8-pound cannons was proposed to keep privateers from entering and seizing merchant ships.
Located on the western border of St. Thomas Harbor, the cannons defended the harbor entrance from colonial rivals and prevented privateers from seizing merchant ships. During the Napoleonic Wars, on March 3, 1801, Fort Willoughby participated in a skirmish with Danish brig of war HDMS Lougen in driving off a British sloop of war, HMS Arab.
British troops later used the battery and renamed it Fort Willoughby during their first occupation of St. Thomas in 1801, and it was again repaired and used during the second British occupation from 1807-1815. Fort Willoughby was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 for its architectural, commercial, and military significance. Today the ruins remain part of the Virgin Islands National Park historic district.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Danish colonial fortification with British-era renaming
- Ruined magazine, barracks, and cistern structures
- Located on Hassel Island within Virgin Islands National Park
- Part of the Hassel Island Historic District
Sources
- https://www.loc.gov/item/vi0093/
- https://www.stthomashistoricaltrust.org/prince-frederiks-battery
- https://picryl.com/media/fort-willoughby-charlotte-amalie-st-thomas-vi-2
- https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/discover-island-forts/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassel_Island,_U.S._Virgin_Islands