Whim Plantation Museum, St. Croix USVI
St. Croix has a rich and unbelievable history that dates back to the early 18th century. One of the most magnificent historical locations on St. Croix is Estate Whim Plantation, located on Frederiksted. This 12 acre estate is full of the type of history that sends a chill up and down your spine as you uncover and discover some of the most incredible stories from the shadows of the past.
You can just imagine what the walls would say if they could talk. The stories that make up this historical fortress are numerous and just begging to be heard. The tour guides are full of the knowledge of their ancestors and are at your disposal to take you through this expansive plantation and its many rooms. The oldest sugar plantation museum in the US Virgin Islands, Whim Plantation was restored in order to give the people who visit a real sense of what a sugar plantation was like and the kind of work that went on behind closed doors. More than just divulging the secrets of the plantation itself, this guided tour was set up to help people further understand the economics of a plantation and go through the procedures used to ensure that the sugar was at its best for merchants. However, that isn’t to suggest that there isn’t a rich social history tied to the estate as well.
The first indication of any ownership at the plantation dates back to 1743, in which cotton was grown on the estate. Later on, in 1754, sugar became the main draw for economic growth on the Estate Whim. Estate Whim is indicative of the type of plantations that were built in the 1730s by the Danish West Indian Company. Although the plantation had proven to be quite successful into the 19th century, by the 1920s, the plantation had run into hard times. Sugar had become less and less profitable. As a result, the plantation specialized in raising cattle to keep itself afloat.
In 1932, the United States government purchased the entire plot of land --including the plantation-- and since 1954 12 acres of that land and the ruins of the original plantation were leased to the US Virgin Islands. Even the remains of an old windmill and sugar factory on the land have been restored in order to give those who wish to a chance to explore the inner workings of the plantation. In fact, sugar cane still grows in the gardens of the plantation. Along with sugar, there are plants and flowers are the signature of all of St. Croix and, in fact, the US Virgin Islands.
Whim Plantation is predicated on the idea that the visitor should be able to interact with the past. Thus, all aspects of the plantation are open to those who want the chance to explore the mysterious and enchanting past of St. Croix through the US Virgin Island’s oldest plantation museum. You mustn’t miss the chance to get up close and personal with St. Croix’s illustrious history.