Imagine a stone fort capable of completely absorbing cannon balls. No, this isn’t the space age, this fort was actually constructed hundreds of years ago! Castillo de San Marcos is the crown jewel of the historic city of St. Augustine. Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States. The historic district is filled with charming shops, top-notch eateries, and, of course, historic landmarks. At the center of all of this is Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.
The fort is probably the most famous attraction in the city of St. Augustine. The fort was constructed over 400 years ago (in 1672), and it is in remarkable condition. It stood the test of time and managed to overcome battles, hurricanes…and tourists!
Castillo de San Marcos is right on the waterfront and offers breathtaking views. When I went to school at nearby Flagler College, I would frequently spend hours sitting at the fort studying for my exams. It’s one of my favorite places to spend time in the Ancient City.
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History of Castillo de San Marcos
St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by the Spanish conquistador, Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Nearly 100 years later, construction began on the fort. Coquina stones for the fort were gathered from present day Anastasia State Park. Castillo de San Marcos is one of the only two fortifications in the world built out of this semi-rare form of limestone. The other coquina fortification is Fort Matanzas, found about 14 miles south.
Typically, when a cannonball hits an object it create a significant amount of damage. This unique stone has the ability to absorb mechanical stress causing it to essentially swallow the cannonball!
When Britain gained control of Florida in 1763, St. Augustine became the capital of the British East Florida and the fort was renamed Fort St. Mark. Twenty years later, the territory was transferred back to the Spanish and the fort’s original name was restored.
Not only was the fort used as a stronghold during the 1600s and 1700s, it was also used as an army base (for the US) named Fort Marion in the 1800s. The fort became a National Monument in 1924. It saw 251 of continuous military possession before it was deactivated in 1933. In 1942, Congress reenacted the fort’s original name, Castillo de San Marcos.
The fort saw its fair share of dark days. For starters, some slave labor was used to construct the stone fort. In addition, the fort was attacked several times, and was besieged twiced. The fort was also used as a military prison to imprison Native Americans (including the famous war chief Osceola).
Visiting Castillo de San Marcos
The history of the fort is fascinating! Even if you’re not a fan of history or forts, you’ll enjoy visiting Castillo de San Marcos. It is definitely one of those places that the whole family will enjoy!
The chambers on the lower level of the fort are filled with artifacts, interactive displays, and other relics. You may even run into a living history character!
On the upper part of the port, there are cannons galore! You’ll also find plenty of benches so that you can kick back and enjoy the beauty of St. Augustine. Keep your eyes out for manatees, egrets, and osprey!
Address: 11 South Castillo Drive
St. Augustine, FL
Visiting Hours: The fort is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Castillo de San Marcos is open from 9:00-5:00.
Admission: $15 per person for visitors 16 and older. Ages 16 and under are free.
Things to Know Before Visiting Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
The Best Time to Visit Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
The best time to visit is in the winter or spring when the weather is cooler and the bugs aren’t nearly as bad.
Entrance Fees
Entrance for adults is $15 per person. Children 15 and under are free.
Cell Service
We had great cell service during our visit to the park.
Parking
There is a pay-to-park lot directly in front of Castillo de San Marcos. You may also be able to find street parking.
Pet Policy
Pets are not allowed inside the fort of Castillo de San Marcos. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times on the outside sections of the park.
Distance from Major Cities
- Jacksonville, FL – 60 miles
- Orlando, FL – 90 miles
- Tampa, FL – 180 miles
- Miami, FL – 320 miles
- Atlanta, GA – 420 miles
- Charlotte, NC – 440 miles
- Birmingham, AL – 500 miles
Distance from Nearby National Parks
- Everglades National Park – 330 miles
- Congaree National Park – 340 miles
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park – 520 miles
- Biscayne National Park – 342 miles
- Dry Tortugas National Park – 460 miles
What is There to do Around the Fort?
We suggest starting your day off at the fort and then crossing the street to visit the Spanish Colonial Quarter.
- St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum
- Lightner Museum
- Flagler College
- San Sebastian Winery
- St. Augustine Distillery
- Historic St. George Street
There are plenty of other great shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars in the Spanish Colonial Quarter. The historic quarter is also dotted with other historic structures like the Oldest School House and the Old City Gates. We suggest spending some time popping in and out of the businesses that line the historic quarter.
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3 replies on “The Iconic Castillo de San Marcos- The Crown Jewel of St. Augustine”
[…] de San Marcos National Monument- We’ve probably visited Castillo de San Marcos more than any of National Parks in Florida. The fort is located in the heart of downtown St. […]
[…] are interesting because sometimes the sites are really well preserved (like Fort Clinch and Castillo de San Marcos), other times a replica for the fort has been erected (like Fort Caroline), and other times the […]
[…] most people think about forts in northeast Florida, they picture the Spanish fortress Castillo de San Marcos or the Civil War era Fort Clinch. It is often forgotten that the French had a short tenure in the […]