Sunrise at Castillo San Marcos
Where Nature Meets History
The Castillo de San Marcos
The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental
U.S. After 9 wooden forts designed to protect St. Augustine were
burned by invaders, the Spanish militia took on the monumental task
of constructing a stone fort that would protect the city and its treasury
from pirates, the British and other attackers. The Castillo is made from
coquina, a locally sourced stone-like compound made of shell and
limestone. The use of coquina as the building material for both the
Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas created a fortress that was
nearly indestructible. Construction of this stone Castillo began in
1672 and took 23 years to complete. This stronger fortress was never
taken in battle. The Castillo played a pivotal role in protecting Spanish
St. Augustine from the 1700s to the late 1800s .
Castillo de San Marcos
Fort Matanzas
In 1924, the Castillo, or Fort Marion as it was known at the time, was
declared a national monument by President Calvin Coolidge. He signed a
proclamation that also designated Fort Matanzas a national monument
Fort Matanzas
Fort Matanzas, located on the intracoastal waterway south of
St. Augustine, was built by Spanish soldiers as the back door protecting
the city by preventing the British sailing through Matanzas Bay from
invading St. Augustine. Today Fort Matanzas has grown to a park of
almost 300 acres and features walking trails, picnic areas, small tidal
beaches and of course the fort located on Rattlesnake Island, which
visitors get to by ferry.
State and County Parks
TOP PHOTO: JAMES CALDWELL
Like the national parks, state and county parks on Florida’s Historic
Coast are cherished playgrounds for visitors of all ages. Find your park,
explore and enjoy!
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