ST. EUSTATIUS HISTORY

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As a colony, Statia changed hands more than 20 times, and all conquering nations left their traces. The capital of Oranjestad is the island's only real town, but you can spend days exploring its historical treasures. The best way to see it is on foot, so you can enjoy the old Dutch streets. The St. Eustatius Historical Foundation's well-designed walking tour is a must for history buffs.

Located in a beautifully-restored building in the town's Historic Core, the Simon Doncker Museum is named for a prominent Statia merchant of the 1700s. One of Oranjestad's most popular attractions, museum exhibits display shipping and commerce, sugar refining, and the island's colonial and pre-Columbian periods. The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, put together the colonial exhibit and has been responsible for most of the architectural digs on the island.

The 18th century Government's Guesthouse has been restored and was officially re-opened by Queen Beatrix of Holland in 1992. Nearby is the Dutch Reformed Church, consecrated in 1755. The ruins have been preserved to prevent further deterioration, and the tower has been fully restored. There are plans to create a natural history museum in the tower.

Built in the mid-18th century, Honen Dalim is the second oldest Jewish synagogue in the western hemisphere (the first is on Curaçao) and is a testament to the large number of Jewish traders who once lived on the island. Preservation of its exterior is underway, and the goal is to restore the entire Synagogue to its former glory.

Lower Town, a sort of suburb of Oranjestad, houses a number of scenic ruins dating back to the early-to-mid-1700s. A drive along the bay road allows you to glimpse a ghost of Statia's flamboyantly prosperous past.

Nineteen forts once ringed St. Eustatius. Most are now in ruins, but three are fairly well preserved. At the edge of Oranjestad lies the aptly-named and justly-famous Fort Oranje, site of the 11-cannon salute to the new Americans. Built by the French in 1629, it was enlarged and renamed by the Dutch in 1636. Today it commands a breathtaking view of the seas below. In addition to the memorial sent by President Roosevelt, the fort contains a bicentennial plaque donated by the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1976.

Located a short distance southeast of Oranjestad, Fort de Windt also overlooks the Caribbean. It's thought to have been constructed during the command of Governor Jan de Windt between 1753 and 1775. The cliff-top vantage point offers a great view of neighboring St. Kitts.

Fort Amsterdam, also called Concordia Battery, is located on the Atlantic Ocean side of St. Eustatius near a cliff overlooking Bargine and Great Bays. The fort is marked on the earliest historical map of Statia, dated 1781, after the French recaptured the island from the British.