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Tortola

Join Me on This Tour of the Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum ~ 1780

Touring the Old Sugar Works Museum, Tortola, British Virgin Islands ~ 1780

Museum Through the welcoming doorway of this old museum is an intriguing time capsule that transports the visitor back in time. The walls in this once flourishing sugar plantation and later a cotton ginning station speak, reveal their unbelievable history as you follow along on a self-guided tour. Framed photographs and stories are posted throughout […]

The Sinking of the Schooner, FANCY ME ~ 1926

The schooner, Fancy Me, from Tortola 1926

Launching The Fancy Me  The Fancy Me was a locally-built schooner that became infamous when she was lost in a hurricane with most of her passengers who were returning home to their families. It was one of the most tragic events that occurred in the maritime history of the British Virgin Islands. The schooner was built on Hassel […]

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

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

  It was Thursday, June 22nd, the Coronation Day of George the Fifth, when a little sailing canoe anchored in the pretty harbor of Tortola! 🇻🇬 He had just arrived from visiting Saba Island in the Dutch Antilles. The skipper, no stranger to the West Indies, went ashore to announce his arrival and was welcomed warmly by […]

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Enjoy their Visit to the British Virgin Islands ~ 1977

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visit Tortola, British Virgin Islands ~ 1977

Queen Elizabeth II visits the British Virgin Islands By Valerie Sims In 1977, my uncle, Ron Walker, photographed Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip as they arrived on Tortola for a short visit.   As a tribute to Her Majesty for her 90th birthday, I made this slideshare presentation of the photographs he took that […]

How Harvest Festival was Celebrated in Tortola ~ 1912

Celebrating Harvest Festival in Tortola, British Virgin Islands at St. George's Church in 1912. By Valerie Sims

Harvest Festival celebrations were an integral part of life in the British Virgin Islands!    It was a time when families appreciated the crops grown and the nourishment they provided. The week was traditionally honored with Church celebrations and family festivities.  Decorating the Church  On November 20, 1912, St. George’s Anglican Church celebrated the Harvest festival with a Thanksgiving Service. According to […]

Tortola Sloop Caught With Contraband! ~ 1933

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

From 1920 to 1933, the US Virgin Islands was included in the nationwide ban during prohibition. Despite the law, many inhabitants imported liquor secretly. Contraband Found! In November 1933, a Tortola sloop was found wrecked on White rock off St. Thomas.   The owner reported to Harbormaster Simmons that he had no idea how the vessel came to be in St. […]

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

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

For many years members of our family enjoyed the annual August festival in Tortola! Here is an excerpt of an article written by W. Evelyn Pickering.   It appeared in the August 17, 1946,  VI Daily News. Below the article is a link to the kind of music played by band, Conjuncto Tropical. Can you imagine the party-goers dancing to this and the […]

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