History

St Eustatius, affectionately known as Statia, was first sighted in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. Throughout the swaggering colonial era that followed, the island changed hands at least 22 times. In 1636, near the close of the Eighty Years' war between Holland and Spain, the Dutch took possession of the island. During the 17th and 18th century, St Eustatius was a major trading center with some 20,000 inhabitants and thousands of ships calling at her shores. It is hard for present day visitors to imagine that this tiny Island once had one of the busiest ports in the region.

During the latter part of the 18th century, St Eustatius was the major supplier of arms and ammunition to the rebellious British Colonies in North America and the subject of conflict between the most powerful seafaring nations of the time. For a while, St Eustatius was the only link between Europe and fledgling American colonies. Even Benjamin Franklin had his mail routed through Statia to ensure its safe arrival. St Eustatius remembered as the emporium of the Caribbean, was nicknamed "The Golden Rock", reflecting its former prosperous trading days and wealthy residents.

On November 16, 1776 the American Brig-of-War, the "Andrew Doria", sailed into the harbor of Statia firing its 13-gun salute indicating America's long sought independence. The 11-gun salute reply, roaring from the canons at Fort Oranje under the command of Governor Johannes de Graaff, established Statia as the first foreign nation to officially recognize the newly formed United States of America.

As the eighteenth century drew to a close St Eustatius gradually lost its importance as a trading center and most merchants and planters left the Island, leaving their homes and warehouses. Through the nineteenth- and early twentieth-centuries Statia became and remained a quiet island waiting to be discovered by history minded visitors.

More information about pre-Columbian history can be obtained from SECAR St Eustatius Center for Archaeological Research.

Go to St Eustatius Historical Foundation website