- Blackbeard's Castle
Infobox_nrhp | name =Skytsborg
nrhp_type =nhl
caption =
location=Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
lat_degrees = 18
lat_minutes = 20
lat_seconds = 45
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 64
long_minutes = 55
long_seconds = 48
long_direction = W
locmapin =
area =
built =1679
architect= Unknown
architecture= Other
designated =October 12 ,1994 cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=2111&ResourceType=Structure
title=Skytsborg (Blackbeard's Castle) |accessdate=2007-06-28|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added =December 20 ,1991
governing_body = Private
refnum=91001844cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]Blackbeard's Castle is one of five National Historic Landmarks in the
U.S. Virgin Islands . It is located in the city of Charlotte Amalie, on the island of St. Thomas. Built in1679 by theDanes as a watchtower to protect the harbor, it was originally called Skytsborg Tower (meaning sky tower). It is located at the highest point on Government Hill.Danish soldiers used Skytsborg as a vantage point to spot enemy ships. It is not known what year Skytsborg Tower took on the name of Blackbeard's Castle, but the infamous
Edward Teach , commonly known asBlackbeard , did sail the Caribbean waters in the early 1700s. It has become part of the lore of the island that he used the tower as a lookout for his own purposes ofpiracy . It was the centerpiece of a private residence for many years, but now is surrounded by a small hotel (The Inn at Blackbeard's Castle), a restaurant and a pool.References
External links
* Official website: [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/ National Historic Landmark Program]
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