The 99 Steps is one of the most distinguishable landmarks in St. Thomas.
The staircase is one of several ‘step-streets’ originally built by the Danes to solve the problem of getting around the Charlotte Amalie’s hilly terrain. The bricks of the steps were brought from Denmark as ballasts in the holds of trade ships. Visitors who walk to the top (actually 103 steps) will find themselves near the foot of more stairs leading to Blackbeard’s Castle, one of the island’s three National Historic Landmarks. The staircase itself is flanked by colorful flowers and palm trees, and despite being fairly steep, is worth a visit for a photo and a climb amongst Virgin Islands history.