1958 Map of Western St. John

About this map

Cruz Bay serves as the primary gateway on this mid-century survey of St. John, showing the island just as the Virgin Islands National Park was being established. The landscape is defined by its steep coastal topography, rising from the waters of Coral Bay and Reef Bay to the heights of Bordeaux Mtn and Camelberg Peak. Traces of the island’s agrarian past are visible in the many estates and small settlements such as Carolina, Adrian, and Fredriksdal, alongside civic landmarks like the Government House and Horace Mann Sch. Religious life is anchored by Emmaus and Bethany, while the coast is punctuated by numerous named bays and points, including the pristine stretches of Caneel Bay and Trunk Bay. This map captures a moment when traditional island settlements and family farms like Herman Farm existed alongside the early infrastructure of the nascent national park.