Road Town, Tortola

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The Maritime History of the British Virgin Islands

The Loss of the Anegada Sloop, FIDDLER ~ 1906

Every time I glance through the old newspapers, I stumble upon the sad news of the loss of another inter-island […]

The Fate of the “Pride of Tortola” ~ 1966

The Pride of Tortola The Pride of Tortola was a 65-foot island schooner once owned by Rudolph Hodge. She was […]

Remembering the RMS Rhone ~ 1867

Remembering the Rhone One of the most tragic hurricanes to ever befall the British Virgin Islands happened 151 years ago. […]

New Book Launched, Twice She Struck, The Story of RMS RHONE

New Book Launching I recently attended a fascinating presentation on the launching of a new book about the fate of […]

The Disappearance of the Fishing Sloop, KITE ~ 1901

Note: This image is a part of the Estus H. Magoon Collection, Item No. 1398. It was used to share […]

Lost at Sea! A Jost Van Dyke Sloop Vanishes Without a Trace ~ 1916

Imagine saying farewell to your loved one at the dock as they boarded a boat, then discovering later that they […]

The Disappearance of the Sloop, SPIDER ~ 1916

St. Thomas was struck by one of the most destructiveย hurricanes in the history of the Danish West Indies! โšก The […]

The Sinking of the Schooner, FANCY ME ~ 1926

Launching The Fancy Meย  Theย Fancy Meย was a locally-built schooner that became infamous when she was lost in a hurricane with […]

Follow Along as the YAKABOO Island Hops Through the British Virgins ~ 1911

  It wasย Thursday, June 22nd, the Coronation Day of George the Fifth, when a little sailing canoe anchored in the […]

Find Your Family on this 1918 Passenger List!

During the early twentieth century, sailing vesselsย wereย theย lifelinesย for island residents. ย  Below are the stories of some of them and their […]

Sugarcane Laborers Return Home on a German Cargo Ship ~ 1912

During the summer of 1912, many seasonal sugarcane laborers from the British Virgin Islands, working in the Dominican Republic, returned […]

Tortola Sloop Caught With Contraband! ~ 1933

From 1920 to 1933, the US Virgin Islands was included in the nationwide ban duringย prohibition. Despite the law, manyย inhabitants imported […]

Carrying Cane Workers ~ 1917

Between 1914 and 1939, the Dominican Sugarcane plantations employedย hundredsย of seasonal cane workersย from the British Virgin Islands!ย ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ฌย  According toย Canefields ofย theย Dominican Republic,ย byย Will […]

Sad Sea Catastrophe: The Loss of the British Sloop, SYRIA ~ 1912

The history of theย Creque familyย is filled with intrigue and adventure! ย  However, it also hasย its fair share of calamities. Sixย branches […]

The Yacht, FLIGHT Takes Party-Goers to Tortola ~ 1946

For many years members of ourย family enjoyed the annualย August festivalย in Tortola! Here is an excerpt of anย article written by W. […]

Interested in the USVI Boats?

Here are a few stories ...

The Fate of the “Pride of Tortola” ~ 1966

The Yacht, Diablesse Visits St. Thomas ~ 1914

44 Ships Belonging to the North Atlantic Fleet Pass St. Croix ~ 1917

How Derrick Barges Help the Maritime Industry ~ 1933

Rebuilding a Sunken Sailboat ~ 1916

Thrilling Experience Touring A German Cruiser ~ 1932

Repairing the EL CARIBE by Hand ~ 1937

Finding a Few Photographs and Invoices Keeps One Schooner’s History Alive ~ 1920

Find Your Family on this 1918 Passenger List!

Here’s a Glimpse of an Ill-Fated Schooner Before She Sunk ~ 1921

How Pencil-Written Notes and Photographs Preserved Schooner’s History ~ 1920

How One Brave Captain Touched the Hearts of Many As He Sailed Around the World ~ 1932

The Mail Schooner, VIRGINIA Visits ~ 1921

Big Job Pumping Out The Barge ~ 1930

Sugarcane Laborers Return Home on a German Cargo Ship ~ 1912

Tortola Sloop Caught With Contraband! ~ 1933

Carrying Cane Workers ~ 1917

See the Four-Masted Schooner Before She was Destroyed by Fire ~ 1920

A Few Lucky Residents Tour a One of a Kind Wonder Before She Sunk ~ 1914

Servicing the USS RANGER at the Railway ~ 1925

Repairing the MAMIE COYLE ~ 1929

The Most Beautiful Ship in the World Visits St. Thomas ~ 1938

How a Crew Survived their Ship’s Sinking ~ 1932

The Loss of a Loved One Aboard the SS Proteus ~ 1941

The Yacht, FLIGHT Takes Party-Goers to Tortola ~ 1946

Honoring the Men of the MARION ~ 1930s

Watching the St. John-Pelican Cay Sloop Race ~ 1937

Visiting a German School Ship! ~ 1938

This Schooner’s Photograph Became a Popular Postcard ~ 1912

Local Artists Thrilled as 30 Pianos Arrive on the SS DOMINICA ~ 1934