Island Boy Photobook: The U.S. Virgin IslandsIn the 1600s, Denmark established settlements on the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. They became known as the Danish West Indies. In the early days of World War I, the United States took a keen interest in the islands because of their location and the possibility they might fall under control of Germany. Denmark agreed to sell the islands to the United States and, on March 31, 1917, the Danish West Indies were officially transferred to