NPS Website
WHAT IS IT?The earliest European settlement on North America, north of Florida. The site of an ill-fated French settlement celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2004. Saint Croix Island is the first International Historic Site in the National Park System.
BEAUTY (6/10)
Like Acadia, Saint Croix is a quiet, calm beauty. Visitors look from Red Beach across the St. Croix River to the island which hosted the French settlers. Our binoculars came in handy, both for viewing the island and for spotting local waterfowl. Red Beach gets its name from the red granite that creates the rocky shoreline.
HISTORICAL INTEREST (5/10)
Samuel Champlain, mapmaker, expedition chronicler and future founder of Quebec, was a member of the first settlement whose members suffered from a harsh winter, which cut them off from their food supply on the mainland. Over half the settlement died of scurvy in the winter of 1604.
The National Parks brochure claims that lessons learned at the expense of the Saint Croix settlers informed the more successful French presence at Port Royal, which still exists today.
CROWDS (6/10)
We were alone. Gab enjoyed the solitude, but Michael concluded that had there been more people, perhaps ways to get to the island would reveal themselves.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (2/5)
Brown signs lead the way from the highway down a quiet residential road to the parking area for the site. A tree-lined path leads visitors through illustrated, bi-lingual interpretive panels down to a small pavilion with a coastal view of Saint Croix Island. The pathway is not paved but should not pose a problem for wheelchairs or strollers.
Saint Croix Island is not “off limits” to visitors, but there is no ferry service offered. If you had a boat in tow, you could probably make your way from the beach to the island with no troubles.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (1/5)
None. There are no facilities at the Saint Croix Visitor Area aside from the path to the pavilion, some picnic tables and one rustic but clean bathroom.
The Saint Croix pamphlet and cancellation stamp for the National Parks Passport book were provided at the Acadia NP Visitors Center, 120 miles south of Saint Croix.
COSTS (2/5)
Entrance to the Site is free. However, it is in the middle of nowhere and gas is not cheap these days.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (1/5)
There were no Rangers at the Saint Croix Visitors Area. But the volunteer at the Acadia NP Visitors Center told us festivities are planned all summer to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the settlement. She would know since her son is the person in charge of the events.
TOURS/CLASSES (3/10)The interpretive panels and statues of Native Americans and French settlers appear to be brand new. Both informed our visit. We knew more about Saint Croix Island when we left than we did before we came.
The lack of a Visitors Center – no film, no bookstore, no additional written material, no person to ask questions to – contribute to this low score.
FUN (6/10)
Some peaceful bird-watching time is always appreciated.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (3/10)
This was a nice stop after a long drive. Emphasis on long drive.
TOTAL 35/80
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