Annaberg Plantation
Annaberg Plantation
Annaberg Plantation (St. John) – this 18th century plantation was among those used by Danish colonizers to produce sugar, rum and molasses. Annaberg was named after plantation owner William Gottschalk’s daughter and translates to Anna’s Hill. Slave labor was used to clear densely forested hillsides and to terrace the slopes around Annaberg to make farming possible. Slave labor was also used to plant, harvest and process the sugarcane. The remains of the windmill and horsemill (used to crush the sugar cane to extract its juice) still stand. Since it’s a museum nowadays (protected by the Virgin Islands National Park Service/NPS), visitors can learn about plantation life under the Danes, as well as sugar production. Free admission (donations accepted). Although there are no set visiting hours, tours are conducted by NPS. Check its website for details: www.nps.gov/viis/index.htm