Estate Whim St Croix Virgin Islands 3D model

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Human: The Virgin Islands' oldest sugar plantation museum is Estate Whim, whose mission is to educate both residents and visitors about colonial-era plantations. Exhibits and guided tours are designed to break down the economics of a plantation, explain how sugar was cultivated and processed, and describe everyday life on the estate. Typically laid out in the 1730's by the Danish West Indian Company, Estate Whim showcases the original agricultural layout of these plantations. The first ownership records were logged in 1743, revealing that cotton was grown on the property at the time. However, by 1754, sugar became the main crop and remained so until the 1920's, when it gave way to cattle due to its unprofitability. In 1932, the U.S. government acquired the entire plantation, where a fifteen-year homesteading program was launched in an attempt to break up large landholdings on St. Croix. Although this endeavor met with limited success, it paved the way for private land ownership and small holdings that are still prevalent today.