Castillo de San Marcos – 15 February 2024

While in St. Augustine, if you have the time, visit the National Monument – Castillo de San Marcos. Exploring an old fort that is still in great structural shape is an experience not to be missed. Spain claimed in 1565 land in the New World and called it La Florida. They settled St. Augustine to protect their claim to the Gulf Stream shipping route and the land. The Spanish built nine wooden forts before constructing this stone fort still standing. This fort was constructed between 1672 and 1695 and never fell in any battle since that time.

The fort was occupied by the Spanish starting in 1695, then the British had control of Florida starting in 1763, then Britain returned it to Spain after the American Revolution in 1783. In 1821, the US ratified Florida cession from Spain and in 1825 the fort was renamed to Fort Marion. In the civil war it was occupied by the Confederate forces in 1861 and 1862, in 1895 (remember Henry Flagler and tourism?!) the first golf course in Florida was installed on the grounds of the fort. During WW2, the fort was used as US Coast Guard Training Base.

The coquina brick construction of the building was sourced from a quarry across the Matanzas Bay. This area is now protected as part of St. Augustine Beach State Park. Here’s an up close look at the wall.

There is a drawbridge, guards rooms, museum exhibits, storage rooms, and lots of canons. The fort is in a star shape and at one time was surrounded by a moat and an area between the moat and the glacis called the covered way. The size of the fort and the history are fascinating. It was used as part of the New World Colonization era, the Colonial era, the American Revolution, Civil War, and even during World War 2. You can explore inside and outside and up on the walls reading plaques about the history.

In 1924, the Fort was named a National Monument and in 1933 transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service. In 1942, Congress restored the original name to Castillo de San Marcos.