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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 […]

RMS Rhone of Salt Island, British Virgin Islands 1867

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. […]

Wreck of the HMS Rhone, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

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 Loss of the British sloop, KITE from Tortola, British Virgin Islands ~ 1901 By Valerie Sims

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 Loss of the Spider ~ 1916 By Valerie Sims

The Disappearance of the Sloop, SPIDER ~ 1916

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

The schooner, Fancy Me, from Tortola 1926

The Sinking of the Schooner, FANCY ME ~ 1926

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

Sailing canoe, YAKABOO with Captain Frederik Fenger at the helm, visits the British Virgin Islands in 1911. By Valerie Sims.

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

It was 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 vessels were the lifelines for island residents. Below are the stories of some of them and their […]

SS Prasident transports BVI workers from the Dominican Republic to the Danish West Indies ~ 1912 By Valerie Sims

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 wrecked off St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands ~ 1933 By Valerie Sims

Tortola Sloop Caught With Contraband! ~ 1933

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

British sloop, LA GRACIA transports cane workers ~ British Virgin Islands ~ 1918

Carrying Cane Workers ~ 1917

Between 1914 and 1939, the Dominican Sugarcane plantations employed hundreds of seasonal cane workers from the British Virgin Islands! 🇻🇬 According to Canefields of the Dominican Republic, by Will […]

The Loss of the British sloop, SYRIA off St. Thomas, Danish West Indies ~ 1912 By Valerie Sims

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

The history of the Creque family is filled with intrigue and adventure! However, it also has its fair share of calamities. Six branches […]

The FLIGHT brings party-goers to Tortola for the August Festival in the 1940s.

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

For many years members of our family enjoyed the annual August festival in Tortola! Here is an excerpt of an article written by W. […]

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Here are a few stories ...

The Fate of the “Pride of Tortola” ~ 1966

The Cruise of the Diablesse in the Danish West Indies ~ 1914

The Yacht, Diablesse Visits St. Thomas ~ 1914

Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander of the North American Fleet passes St. Croix, Danish West Indies ~ 1917 By Valerie Sims

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

Hurricane damage Derrick barge K-15 hauled at the Creque Marine Railway, Hassel Island, US Virgin Islands ~ 1933 By Valerie Sims

How Derrick Barges Help the Maritime Industry ~ 1933

Rebuilding a Sunken Sailboat ~ 1916

German cruiser, KARLSRUHE visits St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands ~ 1932 By Valerie Sims

Thrilling Experience Touring A German Cruiser ~ 1932

Repairing the EL CARIBE by Hand ~ 1937

The schooner, ZUHRAH at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island ~ 1920 By Valerie Sims

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

Find Your Family on this 1918 Passenger List!

Glimpse the last known photograph of the ill-fated GAVIOTA at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island ~ 1921 By Valerie Sims

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

Surveying the damage to the schooner, METEOR at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island in the US Virgin Islands ~ 1920 By Valerie Sims

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

Sailing around the world! Captain Harry Pidgeon of the ISLANDER visits St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands ~ 1937 By Valerie Sims

How One Brave Captain Touched the Hearts of Many As He Sailed Around the World ~ 1937

The Mail Schooner, VIRGINIA Visits ~ 1921

Pumping out BARGE 718 at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island ~ 1930 By Valerie Sims

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

Auctioning the EDGEWOOD in St. Thomas, Danish West Indies ~ 1920 By Valerie Sims

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

The inter-island sloop, EAGLE at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island ~ 1920s. By Valerie Sims

Rare Photograph of the EAGLE at the Railway ~ 1920s

Touring the big ship Malakka in Thomas, US Virgin Islands ~ 1914 By Valerie Sims

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

Servicing the USS Ranger at the Creque Marine Railway ~ 1925 By Valerie Sims

Servicing the USS RANGER at the Railway ~ 1925

Raising the MAMIE COYLE at the Creque Marine Railway ~ 1929 By Valerie Sims

Repairing the MAMIE COYLE ~ 1929

Ship Beautiful, RMS AQUITANIA visits the US Virgin Islands ~ 1938 By Valerie Sims

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

The Fate of the Mail Boat, TO WINDWARD from the US Virgin Islands ~ 1932 By Valerie Sims

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

The St. John-Pelican Cay boat races in the US Virgin Islands in 1937 By Valerie Sims

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

Visiting a German School Ship in the US Virgin Islands!

Visiting a German School Ship! ~ 1938

The Dutch Schooner, Venture is lifted at the Creque Marine Railway, Hassel Island ~ 1912 By Valerie Sims

This Schooner’s Photograph Became a Popular Postcard ~ 1912

Thanks to Gov. Paul M. Pearson for getting thirty pianos for the people of the US Virgin Islands ~ 1934 By Valerie Sims

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

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Ever wonder what the Virgin Islands was like 100 years ago?

Welcome friend! ⛵

Here are a few stories you may like. You can get the latest story delivered to your inbox.

The Maritime History of the British Virgin Islands

Interested in the USVI Boats?