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 History and Culture  >  Introduction British Virgin Islands,  Nature's little secret
Although Christopher Columbus is often credited with discovering the Virgin Islands, the first people to come to these pristine isles, in fact, were the Amerindians. This pre-historic people, who originated in the Orinoco Basin in Venezuela, settled throughout the Windward and Leeward Islands, migrating via dugout canoe. They arrived in The British Virgin Islands around 900 BC and flourished here for well over 1,000 years.

Columbus came across the Virgin Islands on his second voyage to the New World in 1493. He named this bountiful archipelago, Islas Virgines, likening their untouched beauty to the legend of St. Ursula and the 11,000 virgins who followed her to martyrdom. St Ursula, with her lamps, is the national symbol for the BVI today. Columbus' sights though, were on the larger islands of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola where he hoped to find gold. The Virgin Islands remained untouched for over 100 years until its many sheltered coves were discovered by the pirates and privateers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of the era's most famous scallywags are reputed to have launched their raids from The BVI's shores, including Black Beard, Norman and Jost Van Dyke. Several of the islands here, including Norman, Jost Van Dyke and Great and Little Thatch, are named after these legendary characters.

The first European settlers arrived in the mid-17th century. All indications suggest that there was no serious Spanish settlement in the islands. There is evidence to suggest however, that there may have been a Spanish emplacement to protect their Copper Mine interests on Virgin Gorda. A hardy group of Dutchmen are believed to have constructed a fort at the West End of Tortola, but their stay here was short-lived as well. They were soon replaced by British settlers, and in 1672, The BVI was annexed by Britain and administered by the Government of the Leeward Islands. Although the islands' hillsides were steep and rocky, the English quickly set up plantations to grow cotton and sugar. Sugar eventually became king and by the end of the 18th century, sugar, molasses and rum were The BVI's main exports.

In 1834, the emancipation of slaves in the British West Indies, a hurricane and a series of bad economic years put an end to the plantation system in The BVI. By the mid-1800s, the plantation holdings were sold to the islands' former slaves, who turned to fishing and farming as a way of life. Over the next century, the territory was administered by a British governor and the people had little say in the running of their own affairs.

For most of the recorded history, since at least the 17th century, the BVI have been a crown colony of the United Kingdom. Having been part of the British colonial structure in the Caribbean for the first half of the 1900’s, the BVI refused to join the West Indian Federation and left the colony of the Leeward Islands on 1 July 1956.

Although there were intermittent calls for greater local autonomy, it was not until 1950 that the people's voices were heard and a permanent Legislative Council was established. In 1966 a new constitution was implemented.

Today, The BVI government is comprised of a Legislative Council of elected four at-large and nine district representatives, and an Executive Council of five formed from the majority governmentand the Attorney General and chaired by the appointed British Governor who acts as the Queen’s /HMG’s representative. This territorial government is headed by a Chief Minister chosen by the members of the majority party.


People and Culture

Discover our rich cultural tapestry.
Although named by Columbus, many diverse groups of people have called the Virgin Islands home. The Arawaks emigrated from South America over a thousand years ago, and they were followed by the Caribs, Africans, and Europeans. Each community has contributed to the islands, creating the rich cultural tapestry that is the British Virgin Islands.

Our history is written in the landscape.
Discover ancient Arawak shell burial mounds on Anegada. Explore the ruins of sugar mills and plantation houses on Jost Van Dyke, and at Soper's Hole on Tortola, look for a trace of the first European settlement, a Dutch fort built in 1648. On Virgin Gorda, visit the 19th century Cornish Copper Mines, and on Guana Island, see the ruins of a Sugar Mill that reflect the Quaker presence in the BVI. On Tortola, the ruins of a Great House mark the spot where William Thornton, architect of the United States Capitol, once lived, while on Little Jost Van Dyke the memory of John Coakley Lettsome, founder of the London Medical Society, lingers still. The Folk Museum in Road Town, Tortola and the Anegada Museum display artifacts from the Indian, plantation, and slavery eras. Beneath the turquoise waters, explore the secrets of the wrecks of British men-of-war and Spanish galleons, and on all the islands discover how our African legacy has enriched our customs and traditions.

Catch the heartbeat of our culture at fairs and festivals.
Our fungi, calypso, reggae and gospel festivals are distinctly Caribbean but firmly rooted in Africa. At hotels, bars, and parks, the lively beat of fungi, steel pan and calypso celebrates our heritage. The Easter Festival and the Emancipation Festival are held every spring and summer, and during the Christmas Festival, Main Street in Road Town comes alive with lights and festivities. At these and other craft fairs held throughout the year, local artists and artisans display their amazing work in rattan, terracotta, and wicker, as well as sculptures, watercolours, oil paintings, and photography. Our exquisite cuisine reflects the BVI's location at the crossroads of the world. Delicious local seafood, fruits, vegetables, and spices are complimented by European, African, and Indian influences. Enjoy conch, whelk, West Indian roti, Johnny cakes, bush tea, grape-tree wine, exotic rum drinks, and many other West Indian specialties.

The British Virgin Islands are overflowing with stories and secrets. Anegada has its tales of shipwrecks, Salt Island's history tells of taxes paid with bags of salt, and on Norman Island and Deadman's Chest, stories of pirates and lost treasure abound. Even tiny Marina Cay was the inspiration for a book and film. This rich history has made the islands distinct, yet they all hold something in common - warm, gracious, friendly people who are happy to share their folklore and culture with visitors.