VISIT CASTILLO SAN MARCOS. The... by Michael_D
VISIT CASTILLO SAN MARCOS.The fort is the oldest in the US and is the absolute cornerstone of the historic district of St. Augustine, Florida. As the oldest masonry fort and the best-preserved example of Spanish fortification in the US , it is quite a significant place to explore American history and much overlooked in my opinion. Though ground was broken in 1672, it was not completed until 1756 so it was many years in the making and underwent many alterations as it changed hands from British to Spanish to French control. It is an historical gem;-)A 'must see' in any trip to Florida!
The fort itself is a quadrangular with four-bastions and a now dry moat that used to ebb and flow with the tide. The outer walls are over 12 feet thick at the base, tapering to 7 feet at the top and are built of coquina blocks quarried on nearby Anastasia Island.
It reminds me a bit of the castillo in San Juan Puerto Rico and its 80 miles from my doorstep!
The fort protected St. Augustine from pirate raids throughout its existance and from the Spanish foe, British foe or French foe....depending on who occupied the area throughout its history. In its earliest days it was also a prison for American Indians.
It was also given a number of different names during its long history. After Florida was turned over to Great Britain in 1763, it was called Fort St. Mark. In 1825, it was named Ft. Marion, and in 1924 was declared a national monument, turned over to the National Park Service and restored to its original name Castillo de San Marcos.
