Fort Frederik

Fort Frederik stands on the Frederiksted waterfront, a compact Danish fort of 1760 painted the deep red the Danes used, and its parade ground is where Governor von Scholten declared the emancipation of the enslaved population of the Danish West Indies in July 1848, after thousands gathered outside the walls demanding it. The fort now holds a museum covering that history and the town's later years. It was also here that the first foreign salute to the American flag is said to have been fired, in 1776, a claim the town makes prominently.

What you actually see

• The red walls - the Danish fort of 1760 in its characteristic colour.
• The parade ground - where emancipation was declared in July 1848.
• The museum rooms - displays on the fort's history and the town.
• The waterfront position - the fort facing directly onto the harbour.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. The fort keeps set hours and closes on some days. Emancipation Day, 3 July, is marked here.

Honest expectations

The museum is small and the displays are dated in places. Frederiksted itself is quiet outside cruise days. Two hours covers the whole site.

Nearby

Frederiksted pier is alongside, and the rainforest road is east.