An intersection of digital historical preservation and heritage tourism: Prince Frederik's Battery, Virgin Islands National Park

Prince Frederik’s Battery was identified as significant to interpretation and preservation. In light of this, the St. Thomas Historical Trust was the recipient of an American Battlefield Protection Program Grant to assist with the documentation and preservation of this 18th century fortification. This paper focuses on the virtual restoration of Prince Frederick's Battery. Researchers recorded extant ruins using a laser scanner and registration of the point clouds, then reverse-engineered the scan data to create two-dimensional drawings. These were used to create a three-dimensional model of the site and a rendered animation. This project generated digital documentation for posterity and narratives that play an actual and virtual role for heritage tourism and a valuable connection to the local population—one that aligns with the unique heritage of the Virgin Islands.