Free Gut House 17B East Street 3D model

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Free Gut, a historic neighborhood in Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, dates back to around 1747 when the Danes designated a hillside section of town as Christiansted-Neger Gotted, later renamed Free Gut. This area was specifically set aside for Free Blacks, a class of enslaved Africans who had purchased their freedom with earnings from selling goods or produce in the Sunday market. With money earned as artisans, these individuals built homes on the hillside and developed a thriving community of small business owners, fishermen, sailors, shoemakers, tailors, masons, coopers, carpenters, and blacksmiths. Today, Hillsiders gather annually to celebrate their heritage. This particular house was rebuilt using cinder blocks on three sides, with only one side still showing signs of its original structure. However, the house was partially constructed over a gut and remains in that state today. Every available space within Free Gut was utilized for building homes.