Scale House

The door the scale house.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Christianstead National Historical Site

Significance:

historic structure; where goods were weighed

Completed in 1856, the two-story Scale House contained the facilities for inspecting and weighing imports and exports to and from the island of St. Croix. The Scale House is constructed on approximately the same footprint as earlier structures of similar use. The Scale House is located on the wharf, allowing for the immediate tally and supervision of the movement of goods into Christiansted. The first floor contained the office for the weighmaster and scale, while the second floor quartered Danish soldiers, and later harbor staff. Currently, the first floor of the Scale House is open to the public and displays a19th century scale used during the late Danish period. The first floor also supports the park’s bookstore, managed by the cooperating agency, Eastern National, and the visitor information center.