A Brief History of Government House
There is a hidden gem of a prize that is awarded to the winner of the election for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is called Government House.
The moment you enter this remarkable compound of buildings that sits along Company Street, in Christiansted, on St. Croix, you know you cannot be anywhere else but on a Caribbean island.
Few buildings have such an enduring and significant role in the history of the Virgin Islands. Government House is a tribute to the Danish Colonial Heritage of the Virgin Islands both as an outstanding example of Danish colonial architecture and as a historic structure associated with important persons and events.
The nucleus of the grand complex was a private residence purchased by the government in 1771. Its present day configuration now incorporates two other residences and their outbuildings.
Yet, there was nothing grand about the accommodations for the Governor back in 1734. When Danish officials arrived to occupy St. Croix during that year, they found only the ruins of the former French settlement at Bassin, the site they renamed Christiansted. They went about clearing and enlarging the ruins of the French Fort and renamed it Fort Christiansvaern. Early St. Croix governors, as well as Danish West India and Guinea Company (Company) officials and soldiers, lived in the fort. Although the town of Christiansted was laid out by Danish governor Frederik Moth in 1734-1735, it grew very slowly during the first few decades. In 1739, a Company executive found only “some small peasant cottages with straw roofs” and only four sizable dwellings, constructed for the account of the King and several other higher officials. There were “a lot of smaller houses, where in part poor people and free negroes resided.”
In 1771, the Secret Council of St. Croix, with Royal approval, purchased a house on King Street, as the new residence of the Governor General The house belonged to Johan Wilhelm Schopen, a prominent merchant and purchasing agent for the Company. During 1771 - 1774, Schopen House underwent costly, extensive remodeling, as documented by 1774 architectural plans and elevation drawings. In 1775, the structure was referred to as “His Royal Majesty’s Government House,” a description that was first used in 1774 matricula.
Essentially, present day Government House is made up of two townhouses (Schopen House and Sobotker House) and a grouping of Sobotker House outlying buildings, along with a two-story, 11-bay wide, servant’s quarters behind the original Schopen House. Schopen House, is the central wing which runs along King Street; and the adjacent building, Sobotker House, sits at the corner of King and Queen Cross Street. Sobotker House was completed in 1797 for the merchant and planter Adam Sobotker. It was acquired by the government in 1826. Governor-General Peter von Scholten had the two structures combined, and designed the imposing eastern facade and stairway in 1830. During the 1830’s major remodeling of Government House took place, including additions of an entrance pavilion and stairs on the east end, along with a gallery linking the two residences. A magnificent second floor ballroom, flanked by traditional galleries, was also added.
In 1834, the transfer of the deed for 2 and 3 King Street, Government House, was completed from von Scholten.
In 1841, Christiansted architect and contractor, A. Lovmand, made repairs and renovations to Government House, specifically to the section of Sobotker House. During that time, there was also a significant sum that was spent on furnishings for official government rooms.
Alterations were made to the Queen Cross Street facade of the original Sobotker House between 1870 and 1925.
In 1872, the capital of the Danish West Indies was moved to St. Thomas.
On January 9, 1935, a fire seriously damaged both the third story of the Sobotker House and the third story of the Schopen House. At the time of the fire, both the second and third stories of the Sobotker House were used as the Governor’s living quarters. Working plans for the 1939-1940 restoration delineate the third story of the Sobotker House which was not replaced.
In 1941, the Courtyard was landscaped as a Civilian Conservation Corps project.
In 1952, the ballroom was provided with replica furnishings.
Since the United States bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, there have been 31 Governors to have had the privilege of residency at Government House on St. Croix:
8 - Naval Governors (1917-1931)
14 - Civilian Governors (1931-1970)
9 - Elected Governors (1970 - present)
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. currently has the honor of serving the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
