Protestant Cay

Last updated
Protestant Cay
Protestantcaystcroix.jpg
United States Virgin Islands Saint Croix location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Protestant Cay
USA Virgin Islands location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Protestant Cay
Geography
LocationChristiansted Harbor
Coordinates 17°44′59″N64°42′10″W / 17.74972°N 64.70278°W / 17.74972; -64.70278
Archipelago Virgin Islands
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Administration
Territory Virgin Islands
District District of Saint Croix
Sub-district Christiansted

Protestant Cay is a four-acre triangular islet in the Christiansted Harbor, 200 yards north of Christiansted. [1] [2] The island is home to a resort, [3] the Hotel on the Cay, which is home to a protected sand beach, small shop and beach bar. [4] [5] It also has the closest beach to Downtown Christiansted. [6] With one of the ferries, which run from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., every ten minutes, it will only take about two minutes to get there. The ride is free of charge after 4 p.m., and for guests of the Hotel on the Cay. To get on the ferry, passengers have to stand near the boardwalk in front of the King Christian Hotel and wave to the boat captain on duty.

Contents

Ferry to Protestant Cay Ferry to Protestant Cay Christiansted.jpg
Ferry to Protestant Cay

History

Protestant Cay painted by Hans Frederik Meyer Visby. Protestant Cay by Hans Frederik Meyer Visby.png
Protestant Cay painted by Hans Frederik Meyer Visby.

Local legend says the island is named because the Catholic French rulers of the late 1600s wanted all of non-Catholic faith to be segregated and interred on the offshore islet. [7] As only Catholics were allowed burials on Saint Croix, people of other faiths were buried on Protestant Cay. [8]

During the years as a Danish colony, Protestantism became the principal faith of the islands. In the 19th century. Protestant Cay was the residence of the local chief pilot. [9]

Threatened species

The endemic Saint Croix ground lizard once roamed Saint Croix and all nearby islands and islets, but is now only found on Protestant and Green Cays off Saint Croix’s northern coast. [10] [11]

References

  1. ↑ Gorry, Conner and Debra Miller (2005). Caribbean Islands. Lonely Planet. Page 364. ISBN   9781741040555.
  2. ↑ Sullivan, Lynne (2001). Adventure Guide to the Virgin Islands. Hunter Publishing, Inc. Page 188. ISBN   9781556509070.
  3. ↑ Greenberg, Harriet and Douglas. The US Virgin Islands Alive!. Hunter Publishing, Inc. Page 240. ISBN   9781588435842.
  4. ↑ Ghose, Aruna (2014). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Caribbean. Penguin. Page 248. ISBN   9781465432674.
  5. ↑ Prince, Danforth and Darwin Porter (2006). Caribbean For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. Page 505. ISBN   9780471962519.
  6. ↑ Henderson, James (2005). Caribbean & the Bahamas. New Holland Publishers. Page 533. ISBN   9781860112126.
  7. ↑ Glanville, Gail (1983). Beaches: U.S. Virgin Islands : Everyone's Guide (and More) to the Best of the Beaches in America's Paradise, the U.S. Virgin Islands. Macmillan Caribbean. Page 21. ISBN   9780333335758.
  8. ↑ Government Printing Office (2001). U.S. Virgin Islands: A Guide to National Parklands in the United States Virgin Islands. National Park of the Virgin Islands. Page 93. ISBN   9780912627687.
  9. ↑ Nielsen, Per. "Flåden og Dansk Vestindien - Den danske flådes togter til Caribien 1671-1917" (PDF) (in Danish). Forlaget Marinehistoriske Skrifter / Dansk Vestindisk Selskab. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  10. ↑ Stallings, Douglas (2009). Fodor’s Caribbean. Fodor's Travel Publications. Page 26. ISBN   9781400019427.
  11. ↑ Sheviak, Charles J. (1990). Ecosystem Management: Rare Species and Significant Habitats : Proceedings of the 15th Annual Natural Areas Conference. University of the State of New York. Page 154.
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