| |
| |
 |
| |
Castillo de San Marcos
1 South Castillo Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32084
904-829-6506 ext. 234
|
|
Perhaps one of the most famous aspects of St. Augustine is the Castillo de San Marcos national monument. Located on 2.5 acres in downtown St. Augustine, the Castillo de San Marcos fort was occupied by the Spanish and by the British at different times in history, and today is a fun
attraction to visit.
The Castillo de San Marcos was constructed by the Spanish in the late 1600’s to protect the city’s citizens and army if the area came under attack from one of the neighboring colonies. The construction process lasted
23 years with the fort being completed in 1695. The fort was constructed using coquina stones quarried from nearby Anastasia Island. Coquina stones are little shells that have bonded together over time and formed a hard stone, similar to limestone.
 The Castillo de San Marcos protected the Spanish settlement at St. Augustine for many years after its completion, however in 1763 the British took over the fort as a provision of the Treaty of Paris (1763) when the British gained all of Florida in exchange for returning the provinces of Havana and Manila back to Spain. The British occupation of the fort did not last more than 20 years however, when under the Second Treaty of Paris in 1784 the Spanish troops were given the Castillo de San Marcos back.
In 1900 the Castillo de San Marcos was taken off active duty as a fort and in 1924 it became a
national monument. Today the site is managed by the National Park Service who also looks after Fort Mantanzas National Monument, also in St. Augustine.
When you visit the Castillo de San Marcos you will enjoy learning a
great deal about St. Augustine’s rich history and culture. Our
beautiful bed and breakfast in St. Augustine is the perfect vacation
accommodation for your next trip to St. Augustine. Stay with us and you’ll be just a short distance away from all of the exciting things to see and do in the Old City.
Click on the following links for more detailed area information:
|
|
If you have any
questions or would like more information, please contact us
800.395.1890, 904.824.2100,
email
us, or use our online request form. |
|
|
|
