Archaeological finds on the island indicate that St Lucia was settled by Arawaks between 1000 and 500 BC. Around 800 AD migrating Caribs conquered the Arawaks and established permanent settlements on the island.

St Lucia was outside the routes taken by Columbus on his four visits to the New World and was probably first sighted by Spanish explorers during the early 1500s. The first attempt at European colonization wasn't made until 1605, when a party of English settlers was quickly routed by unreceptive Caribs. A second attempt by British colonists from St Kitts was made in 1638, but the settlement was abandoned within two years after most of the settlers were killed in attacks.

After the British left, the French laid claim to the island and attempted to reach an agreement with the Caribs. In 1746, the French established the island's first town, Soufrière, and began developing plantations. The British successfully invaded in 1778 and established naval bases at Gros Islet and Pigeon Island, which they used as staging grounds for attacks on the French islands to the north. St Lucia seesawed between the British and the French until 1814, when the Treaty of Paris finally ceded the island to the British, ending 150 years of conflict during which St Lucia had changed flags 14 times.

Culturally the British were slow in replacing French customs and it wasn't until 1842 that English nudged out French as St Lucia's official language. Other customs linger to this day: the majority of locals speak a French-based patois, attend Catholic churches and live in villages with French names. St Lucia gained internal autonomy in 1967 and full independence, as a member of the British Commonwealth, in 1979.

Since then, tourism has boomed, and construction of resorts has not always followed environmentally sound guidelines. One of the newest resorts was shamelessly built smack between the twin Pitons, which have always stood as the symbol of the island's unspoiled natural character. Prior to the construction, many islanders had hoped the land would be set aside for a new national park.

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Summary|Culture|History
Castries|Pigeon Island National Park|Rodney Bay