Last updated: December 12, 2023
Place
Fort Christiansvaern Cannon Barbette
NPS Photo: Kahle
Quick Facts
Location:
Fort Christiansvaern
Significance:
The cannon that once defended the harbor now defend the corners of building across Christiansted.
The upper level of the fort where the cannon are housed is called a barbette. The north facing wall (or scarp) looks out over Christiansted Harbor offering an impressive view, where on clear days, St. Thomas and St. John islands can be seen.
Today only a few of the cannon that were originally placed inside the fort remain. At first, on this north-facing barbette, stood 8 cannon, all of which were 18-pounder cannon. An 18-pounder cannon shot cannonballs that weighed 18 pounds. However, the cannon themselves weighed around 4600 lbs. The maximum range of these cannon are about 1.25 miles, or 1.6 km.
Some of the original cannon can be seen throughout Christiansted where they served as bollards starting in the 1830’s, protecting building’s corners from ox drawn carts transporting sugar, molasses, and rum to the wharf. Some along the bulkhead were used as moorings for vessels. Ironic once again how weapons that served to oppress eventually were used for the most menial of tasks.
Denmark relied heavily on its neutrality in foreign wars to maintain global maritime trade. Until the late 1840s, the role of the limited Danish military presence was to protect commercial shipping in the harbor against attack by pirates or privateers. They were also stationed here to prevent and quash any rebellions by the enslaved of the island.
The guns at Fort Christiansvaern were never fired in aggression, but were, periodically, fired for ceremonial purposes.
The closest Fort Christiansvaern came to needing to use the cannon in defense was in 1807 when the British arrived to occupy the island with nearly a dozen of the British Royal Navy Warships. Knowing a battle would end poorly for them, the Danish surrendered the Fort and the island. Though the occupation was short lived, it was a reminder to the enslaved people here on St. Croix that even those who were oppressing them were not all powerful after all.
To protect yourself from injury, please do not climb on the cannon.
Today only a few of the cannon that were originally placed inside the fort remain. At first, on this north-facing barbette, stood 8 cannon, all of which were 18-pounder cannon. An 18-pounder cannon shot cannonballs that weighed 18 pounds. However, the cannon themselves weighed around 4600 lbs. The maximum range of these cannon are about 1.25 miles, or 1.6 km.
Some of the original cannon can be seen throughout Christiansted where they served as bollards starting in the 1830’s, protecting building’s corners from ox drawn carts transporting sugar, molasses, and rum to the wharf. Some along the bulkhead were used as moorings for vessels. Ironic once again how weapons that served to oppress eventually were used for the most menial of tasks.
Denmark relied heavily on its neutrality in foreign wars to maintain global maritime trade. Until the late 1840s, the role of the limited Danish military presence was to protect commercial shipping in the harbor against attack by pirates or privateers. They were also stationed here to prevent and quash any rebellions by the enslaved of the island.
The guns at Fort Christiansvaern were never fired in aggression, but were, periodically, fired for ceremonial purposes.
The closest Fort Christiansvaern came to needing to use the cannon in defense was in 1807 when the British arrived to occupy the island with nearly a dozen of the British Royal Navy Warships. Knowing a battle would end poorly for them, the Danish surrendered the Fort and the island. Though the occupation was short lived, it was a reminder to the enslaved people here on St. Croix that even those who were oppressing them were not all powerful after all.
To protect yourself from injury, please do not climb on the cannon.