Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Florida

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St Augustine, Florida
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castillo_de_San_Marcos_Fort_Panorama_5.jpg
Author: Jon Zander


Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fort in the United States. The fort, Castillo de San Marcos, was built by the Spanish in 1672 when Florida was still Spanish territory. It is located in the city of St. Augustine, which is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established city in continental United States.

When the British took over Florida in 1763, Castillo de San Marcos was called Fort St. Mark. At that time, St Augustine was made the capital of East Florida while Pensacola became the capital of West Florida.

The defeat of the British in the American War of Independence and the subsequent signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1783 brought both East and West Florida back into Spanish territory.

Aerial view of Castillo de San Marcos
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castillo_de_San_Marcos.jpg
Author: Natinal Park Service


In 1819, Florida was ceded by the Spanish to the United States in the Adams-Onís Treaty. In 1821 Fort St Mark was renamed Fort Marion, in honor of revolutionary war hero Francis Marion. On 15 October, 1924 it was designated a national monument. In 1942, US Congress reverted the fort to its original name, Castillo de San Marcos. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on 15 October, 1966.

Castillo de San Marcos north wall
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort2.jpg
Author: Shreeg88

Visiting Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Florida

Castillo de San Marcos is located off Castillo Drive in St Augustine. The monument is open to the public from 8:45 am to 5:15 pm every day of the year except Christmas Day. Entrance fee is $6.00 per person aged 16 and above, and free admittance to those below 16.

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