Eight Great V.I. Sites Named National Historic Treasures

Virgin Islands churches, schools and estate plantations are among the eight historic sites receiving National Historic Landmark status from the federal government. Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol announced the designations recently.

Director Sean Krigger of DPNR’s State Historic Preservation Offices credits local historians and members of the historic preservation board for completing the steps needed to win recognition from the National Park Service. As a result of their efforts, the Sprat Hall Historic District, LaGrange Historic District, Holy Cross Episcopal Church, and Kingshill Lutheran Church on St. Croix are newly declared national treasures; so are Evelyn E. Marcelli Elementary School and Sub Base Barracks No. 2 on St. Thomas.

Two St. John schools were also recognized by the park service: the East End School in Hansen Bay and the Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Coral Bay (formerly known as the Guy Benjamin Elementary School). “Over the years, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources State Historic Preservation Offices, we’ve conducted assessments. Most sites have been listed as historic sites locally,” Krigger said.