A long, long time ago in a land far, far away, the building that is now the archeology museum at Cinnamon Bay was a convenience store.
This was well before St. John had the Starfish Market and La Plancha del Mar.
Campers were happy if the little shack had butter and hamburger.
It also rented snorkels.
Today, the little building at the water's edge is closed for renovation. In recent years, it's been the place where archaeologist Ken Wild and his interns have displayed their finds as they excavate on the beach looking to write more history about the island's original inhabitants.
Wild told the Virgin Islands Daily News that best evidence says the building was constructed in 1680.
Now it is getting a face lift to become a contemporary archaeological lab and museum. The National Park Service has budgeted nearly $300,000 for the project., The money will come from the $4/person admission fees charged at Trunk Bay. The Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park expects to spend an additional $120,000 on the project including the costs of display cases and building exhibits. (Details on the Friends' plans are here.)
Construction is expected to take about three months, according to the Daily News.
Read more in the Daily News' story here,