Origin of the Virgin Islands National Park 

The Virgin Islands National Park was made possible through the generosity of Laurence S. Rockefeller and members of his family. Mr. Rockefeller first discovered the beauty of St. John when he came here on a sailing vacation some fifty years ago.

In November l954, the Rockefeller family began acquiring large tracts of land on St. John in the Virgin Islands. The plan was to eventually turn the acreage over to the federal government for the establishment of a Virgin Islands National Park. The Rockefellers initially accumulated over 5,000 acres of land on St. John, which they donated to the Department of the Interior. On August 2, l956, President Eisenhower signed a bill authorizing the creation of the Virgin Islands National Park. Over the years, the size of the Virgin Islands National Park has grown steadily. Today it totals more than 9,620 acres plus an additional 5,600 acres of off-shore underwater marine gardens.

Mr. Rockefeller’s visionary gesture spared St. John from over-development. Instead, St. John has remained an unspoiled jewel whose captivating beauty offers unending pleasure and enjoyment to everyone who comes here. 

Friends of the National Park - Virgin Islands

The Friends of the National Park is a non-profit, island organization working with the National Park Service to help protect and conserve our Virgin Islands National Park. The Friends objective is to help safeguard the resources of the park while enhancing the experience of visitors.

The Friends publishes a brochure of classes and trips, which can be obtained at the National Park Visitor Center. Typical classes open to the public include palm weaving, coastal ecology, island marine biology, the history of scientific research on St. John, West Indian cooking, and archeology of St. John. For additional information call (340) 779-4940 or you may e-mail Friends at info@friendsvinp.org.

2010 Seminar Series - January & February

ECO SPA January 5, Tuesday * 2:00pm-4:00pm; Meet: Saltpond parking lot; Bring: Old swimsuit, towel, water & snack; Seminar Fee: $25 Mem/ $35 Non mem; Max Group: 20

USING THE 5 SENSES IN WRITING January 10, Sunday 9:00am-12:00pm; Meet: Trunk Bay parking lot; Bring: Notebook and pen/pencil; Seminar Fee: $35 Mem / $45 Non Mem; Max Group: 12

BOTANICAL HIKE January 10, Sunday *9:00am-1:00pm; Meet: Caneel Bay parking lot; Bring: Sunscreen, hat, snack, plenty of water and hiking shoes; Seminar Fee: $35 Mem / $45 Non Mem: Max Group: 25

SPIRIT DOLL WORKSHOP January 14, Thursday *10:00am- 3:00 pm; Meet: Skinny Legs Rest; Bring: Ideas or found items for spirit doll creation and lunch; Seminar Fee: $85 Mem / $95 Non Mem; Max Group: 5 (2 minimum)

KAYAK THE MANGROVES I January 16, Saturday *10:00am-4:00pm; Meet: Skinny Legs Rest; Bring: Snorkel gear, water, towel and sunscreen; Seminar Fee: $65 Mem / $75 Non Mem; Max Group: 12

MARINE BIOLOGY BOAT TRIP January 23, Saturday *9:00am-3:00pm; Meet: National Park Visitor Center Dock; Destinations: Remote north shore cays; Bring: Snorkel gear, lunch, water, towel & sunscreen; Seminar Fee $25 Mem / $35 Non Mem; Max Group: 30

PEPPER SAUCE MAKING January 27, Wednesday *2:00pm-4:00pm; Meet: Baptist Church parking lot, Bring: Notebook; Seminar Fee: $25 Mem / $35 Non Mem; Max Group: 10

FULL MOON HIKE ON RAM HEAD January 29, Friday *5:00pm-8:30pm; Meet: Saltpond parking lot; Bring: Hiking shoes, flashlight, snack & water; Seminar Fee: $25 Mem / $35 Non Mem; Max Group: 20

HASSEL ISLAND TOUR I & II January 30, Saturday, *10:00 am-2:00pm & April 3, Saturday, 10:00-2:00pm, Meet: Frenchtown, St. Thomas; Bring: Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, dry bag & hiking shoes; Seminar Fee: $85 Mem / $90 Non Mem; Max Group: 15 

VINP ARCHIVE TOUR February 3, Wednesday *10:00am-12:30pm. Meet: Friends of the Park Store; Seminar Fee: $25 Mem / $35 Non Mem; Max Group: 25

KAYAK CANEEL BAY February 5, Friday *10:00am-1:00pm. Meet: Caneel Bay parking lot; Bring: Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, dry bag & hiking shoes; Seminar Fee: $85 Mem / $90 Non Mem; Max Group: 15

A GLIMPSE INTO ST. JOHN'S PAST February 6, Saturday * 9:30am-11:30pm. Meet: Est. Concordia Pavilion; Seminar Fee: $25 Mem / $30 Non Mem; Max Group: 30

ARCHEOLOGY BOAT TRIP February 8, Monday *10:00am-3:00pm. Meet: National Park Visitor Center Dock; Bring: Snorkel gear, lunch, water, towel and sunscreen. Seminar Fee: $75 Mem / $85 Non Mem; Max Group: 23

BIRDS OF THE PARK: February 10, Wednesday * 9:00 am- 1:00pm. Meet: National Park Visitor Center; Bring: Binoculars, water & notebook; Seminar Fee: $45 Mem / $55 Non Mem; Max Group: 20

COASTAL ECOLOGY: February 13, Saturday *9:30am-3:00pm. Meet: National Park Visitor Center; Bring: Lunch, water, sunscreen & snorkel gear; Seminar Fee: $75 Mem / $85 Non Mem; Max Group: 30

ROMANCE IN THE SKY: February 14, Sunday *7:30-9:00pm. Meet: Annaberg Plantation Ruins; Bring: Blanket, flashlight, pillow & binoculars; Seminar Fee: $35 Mem / $45 Non Mem; Max Group: 35

KAYAK THE MANGROVES II February 20, Saturday *1:00pm-4:45pm. Meet: Skinny Legs Rest. Bring: Snack, water, snorkel gear & towel; Seminar Fee: $45 Mem / $55 Non Mem; Max Group: 20

REPTILE HIKE February 24, Wednesday *10:00am-2:00pm. Meet: National Park Visitor Center. Bring: Hiking shoes, water, snack & bug repellant; Seminar Fee: $45 Mem / $55 Non Mem; Max Group: 25

SEA TURTLE SAIL February 26, Friday *12:45pm-5:00pm. Meet: Charlotte Amalie waterfront, St. Thomas; Bring: Sunscreen, hat, snack, snorkel gear & swimsuit; Seminar Fee: $65 Mem / $75 Non Mem; Max Group: 30