The Governor’s House, appearing on Samuel Fahlberg’s 1799 city map, occupies plot number 34 in what was known as the Swedish quarter. Initially built as a customs house, it featured a sophisticated dual-purpose design with the director’s apartment on the upper floor and administrative offices below. The building’s history reflects the changing fortunes of St. Barth’s Swedish period. When the Swedish West Indian Company’s privileges ended in 1805, ownership transferred to the Swedish Crown, and Samuel Fahlberg established his office there.
By 1844, the building’s sturdy construction made it the obvious choice for renovation when another official residence needed replacement. The 1862 renovation preceded Governor Carl Ulrich and his wife Edla’s residency, during which Edla created a valuable historical record through her watercolor paintings of island life. After St. Barth’s return to France in 1878, the building served as the town hall until 2001, maintaining its administrative importance for over a century.
