Salt River Bay, located on the north shore of St. Croix, is a site of profound historical and ecological significance. It is notably recognized as the only documented location where members of Christopher Columbus’s expeditions set foot on what is now U.S. territory.
For thousands of years, Salt River Bay was home to various Indigenous cultures, including the Igneri, Taino, and Carib peoples. Archaeological findings indicate that the area was a major religious and cultural center, featuring structures such as ceremonial ball courts.
On November 14, 1493, during his second voyage, Christopher Columbus’s crew landed at Salt River Bay. This encounter led to the first recorded armed conflict between Europeans and Native Americans, specifically with the Carib inhabitants. Columbus’s crew encountered Indigenous Carib inhabitants upon landing. These people were fierce defenders of their territory and culture. A skirmish broke out when Columbus’s men attempted to capture individuals for information or enslavement. The Caribs defended themselves with bows and arrows, hence the name “Cabo de las Flecha” (Cape of Arrows).
Following Columbus’s visit, Salt River Bay became a focal point for various European colonial powers, including the English, Spanish, French, Dutch, and Danish, each leaving their mark on the region’s history.
Perched above the bay, Fort Flamand (also known as Fort St. Jacques) stands as a reminder of French colonial activity in the mid-17th century. In 1641, the English colonists from St. Christopher (known today as St. Kitts) established a colony on the western shore of Salt River Bay, St. Croix. In 1643, the Dutch seized St. Croix from the English. Later, the French during their occupation of St. Croix, established Fort Flamand as a strategic point for controlling the coastline and defending the colony from attacks by rival European powers. Today, its ruins bear witness to the island’s complex history of colonial ambitions.
The bay encompasses diverse ecosystems, such as mangrove forests, estuarine environments, coral reefs, and a submarine canyon. These habitats support a variety of threatened and endangered species, underscoring the area’s ecological value.
In recognition of its historical and ecological importance, Congress established the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve in 1992. This park is co-managed by the National Park Service and the Government of the Virgin Islands, aiming to protect and interpret the site’s rich cultural and natural resources. Visitors to Salt River Bay can explore the Columbus Landing Site, which remains a significant cultural resource for the community.