Virgin Islands National Park Map

The Virgin Islands lie in the Lesser Antilles, 1,100 miles southeast of Miami. Several of the islands are British possessions, while others are part of the United States Virgin Islands National Park. This protected area encompasses about 7,200 acres of St. John, a hilly island with a history as fascinating as its scenery is lovely. Humans are believed to have reached the Virgin Islands about 3,000 years ago. Archaeological finds indicate that there were settlements on St. John several centuries before Columbus arrived in the Caribbean in 1492. Denmark claimed St. John and other islands in the 17th century, and beginning in 1718 Danes established plantations of sugarcane over most of the island. Land was cleared and the fields and sugar mills were worked by enslaved Africans, who were emancipated in 1848.

Ruins from the plantation era, among St. John’s most evocative attractions, serve as reminders of the colonial period of wealth for a few plantation owners and slavery for hundreds of workers. After the plantations dwindled, St. Johnians, as locals are called, lived by raising cattle and cultivating crops.

The United States bought St. John and several other Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, basically for military purposes, and by the 1930s some U.S. citizens had begun to settle and vacation here. Among those enthralled by St. John was financier and conservationist Laurance S. Rockefeller, who bought more than 5,000 acres of land and donated it to serve as the foundation of a national park.

Snorkeling and scuba diving are highly popular in the park, which includes 5,650 acres of Caribbean Sea adjacent to St. John, as well as many small islands. To protect the marine environment, Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument was established in 2001. It encompasses nearly 20 square miles adjoining the national park and is administered by the staff of Virgin Islands National Park.

Today, vacationers from around the world come to enjoy the beaches, marine life, culture, shopping, and cuisine of the Virgin Islands. St. John, though, has neither airport nor cruise dock. Combined with the fact that most of its area lies within a national park, St. John offers a less crowded, more relaxed atmosphere than do its neighbors.

US National Parks Map

About the Guide

Bask in the spectacular beauty, thrilling terrain, and quiet peacefulness of the country’s finest state parks, hand- picked by park directors and National Geographic editors. This fully updated fifth edition includes 750 additional off- the-beaten track destinations. Beautifully written descriptions tell the stories of the parks, from their wildlife, natural features, and history to their most popular current activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, water sports, and rock climbing. Vivid images inspire your next getaway, while detailed information–including 32 detailed maps highlighting sites, trails, campgrounds, and more– helps you plan your next excursion. From free to low-cost, from Florida to Alaska, from the six-acre lao Valley to the 204,000-acre Baxter, use this essential guide to plan a day visit or a weekend escape.