| Charlotte Amalie, capital and chief port of the Virgin Islands of the United States, on Saint Thomas Harbor, southern Saint Thomas Island. Rum, bay rum, woolens, jewelry, and sugar are exported. Local industries include boatbuilding, rum and alcohol distilling, and the production of handicrafts. A picturesque town built on three hills, Charlotte Amalie is a free port and a major tourist resort. Of special interest are Fort Christian, built in 1671; Beretta, the shopping area; and the Frenchtown section. Charlotte Amalie is the site of the College of the Virgin Islands and the Museum of the Virgin Islands. In 1672 the Danes founded the first permanent settlement on the site, naming it Amalienborg or Charlotte Amalia, after their queen. The city is also popularly known as Saint Thomas, which was the official name from 1921 to 1936. It became capital of the American territory of the Virgin Islands in 1917, when the former Danish West Indies were purchased. |
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