April 21st - October 21st 2012:
The Monuments of the Colonies
Come close to an almost forgotten chapter of Danish
history from the glory days. The exhibition tells the story of the
establishment of the Danish sugar adventure, the African slaves and
the Danish colonial masters, but also of a beautiful architecture
of which the Virgin Islands today still show strong
traces.
Denmark sold the islands almost a hundred years ago.
However, the inheritance from the years of Danish ruling can still
be seen - both on the Virgin Islands and now also in the exhibition
The Monuments of the Colonies at Gammel Estrup - the Manor
Museum.
From 1670 to 1820, 4 forts, 2 slave stations, 3
towns and several churches shot up on the Virgin Islands and not
least: hundreds of plantations. The extremely hard work of the
slaves in the sugar plantations earned fortunes for the Danes,
fortunes that were invested in beautiful mansions and luxury here
in Denmark, including the Odd Fellow Mansion and the French Embassy
in Copenhagen.
As members of the society's élite, the Danish
nobility took part in the colonial adventure, and therefore quite a
number of threads can be drawn to the Danish manors. As a result of
the success overseas, several of the successful merchants were also
ennobled, and in this way the trade in the colonies influenced the
composition of the nobility and the ownership of the Danish
manors.
The exhibition tells of the establishment of the
colony, the Danish colonial masters and the African slaves, but
also about the descendants of the African slaves and the Virgin
Islands today. Experience the beauty through architectural
drawings, maps and historical photographs, and experience the
horror through the stories of the destinies of the slaves. A series
of video interviews with significant people from today's St Thomas
and St Croix completes the exhibition. The architecture and the
mournful beauty of the landscapes put into perspective the cruel
story of the first 150 years of the colony.
The exhibition has been prepared by the Danish
National Museum. In 2011 the exhibition could be seen in the Danish
National Museum in Copenhagen and the Flensburger
Schifffahrtsmuseum in Germany, and in 2012 the exhibition can be
seen at Gammel Estrup - the Manor Museum.
Dec.1st s- Dec.23rd:
Christmas for Master, Mistress and Servants
With the Christmas exhibition which opens on
December 1st 2012, Gammel Estrup invites you to
experience Christmas at the manor.
The exhibition includes laid Christmas tables and
decorated Christmas trees as they might have been laid and
decorated about a hundred years ago when the manor was inhabited.
There is a very special atmosphere in the halls and chambers which
are beautifully decorated with Christmas decorations and during all
weekends also with candles.
During each weekend in advent special activities
give you the opportunity to take part in the Christmas preparations
at the manor.