ST. THOMAS — The Fort Christian Museum National Historic Landmark has reopened after being closed since the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources has announced.
The fort officially reopened in March 2017, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, after being shuttered for multiple years.
Renovations to the fort began in 2005 with Tiptop Construction, and Custom Builders was awarded a new contract to perform the renovation work in 2014. Custom Builders substantially completed Phase I on June 24, 2015 to include a new bricked roof, refurbished governor’s quarters with wooden floors, a refurbished reception room complete with wainscoting, and a refurbished church with exterior lighting was added to the grounds of the south curtain and interior courtyard. According a release Government House issued in 2016, these improvements have markedly enhanced the aesthetics of the fort, adding that the refurbished restrooms would provide comfort to all visitors.
The total budget for the renovation of the fort was $2,076,549.02 for Phase I, $911,000.00 for Phase II, and an estimated $1.5 Million for the third phase, Government House said.
The Fort Christian Museum will continue serving the community between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The museum offers self-guided tours and limited access to the exhibits. Guided tours are available at 10:00 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. daily.