Emancipation Garden

Tired shoppers and St. Thomas vacationers can enjoy a rest at this small, breezy park just north of the vendor’s plaza at the east end of Charlotte Amalie. This charming park was built to commemorate the freeing of the slaves on July 3, 1848, ten years before Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was read after officials received word that governor Peter von Scholten had freed slaves on St. Croix. The freed man blowing into the conch shell announces to the islands and the world beyond the word, Freedom. A bronze bust of a freed slave blowing the conch shell commemorates this anniversary.

Two other monuments show the Danish-American tie - a bust of Denmark’s King Christian and scaled down model of the Liberty Bell.

There is a gazebo where many official ceremonies take place. On Christmas morning you can hear the “Battle of the Choirs”. At Miracle on Main Street you will find this park alight with Christmas lights and choirs and bands taking their turns on stage. During Carnival the park turns into the Food Fair where island delicacies are sold. There have been jazz concerts, steel pan band concerts and more heard in this comfortable enclave in Charlotte Amalie

"Thank you very much! All of us enjoyed the "Hide Away " very much. You were gracious hosts- we couldn't have ask for more Tyler and my mother will definitely be planning a trip back down here to stay with you.

Eric Dawe