Frenchtown is a small French fishing settlement on the St. Thomas island of Charlotte Amalie. The majority of the population in Frenchtown, also known as Carénage, can trace their roots to the French Caribbean island of St. Barthelemy (St. Barths), since their parents, grandparents, or great grandparents immigrated to St. Thomas from that island. Several inhabitants were born in St. Barths and relocated to St. Thomas as children or adolescents. The trade and migration between St. Barths and St. Thomas are widely documented in oral history and historical records dating from the 1800s and 1900s. Census data, arrival records, and historical newspapers detail the arrival of vessels, goods, and people from St. Barths to St. Thomas.
The early migrants, the majority of whom were men, moved to St. Thomas in search of better employment prospects. They were soon joined by relatives and friends, as well as wives and children, and they formed a little village.
Today, the French community in St. Thomas is firmly established. With almost 150 years of history on the island, they honor both their French and Virgin Islands ancestors. To safeguard the preservation of their story and to enable them to share it with the public, they established a modest museum, the French Heritage Museum.
