Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade
route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry
fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450
years of cultural intersections.

Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural intersections.

This furnace, in the water battery on the east side of the Castillo, heated cannonballs red hot to be fired at wooden vessels.

Castillo de San Marcos Hot Shot Furnace

The Castillo features both iron and bronze cannon and mortar from the period.

Castillo de San Marcos Cannon

Crossing a dry moat, this drawbridge was the only way into the Castillo.

Castillo Drawbridge

Cannon firing demonstrations are scheduled five times a day every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Castillo de San Marcos Cannon Firing

the Castillo commands the northern edge of the heart of downtown St. Augsutine.

Castillo de San Marcos Aerial View

Castillo De San Marcos National Monument

Bird's eye view of the park

Fort Mose Historic State Park

Bird's eye view of the campground

Loop AWNG

Loop COQU

Loop QCON

Loop SAND

Loop SEAB

Loop SEAU

Loop SEYE

Anastasia State Park

Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower,
completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish
military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protects approximately 300 acres
of Florida coastal environment containing dunes, marsh, maritime forest, and
associated flora and fauna, including threatened and endangered species.

Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protects approximately 300 acres of Florida coastal environment containing dunes, marsh, maritime forest, and associated flora and fauna, including threatened and endangered species.

Fort Matanzas sits on Rattlesnake Island in the middle of the Matanzas River.

Fort Matanzas

Here you can find information about the fort tour, exhibits, park movie, passport stamp, and more.

Visitor Center

More the half-a-million people visit Fort Matanzas each year to enjoy both the river and ocean beaches.

Recreational Opportunities

Fort Matanzas protected the southern river approach to Saint Augustine.

Protecting the riverway

The few enlisted soldiers at Fort Matanzas shared a small, sparse room as living space.

Soldier's Quarters

Follow an elevated boardwalk through some pristine Florida barrier island habitat.

Nature Trail

Fort Matanzas National Monument

Faver-Dykes Pavilions

Faver-Dykes State Park

Loop CG1

The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses
approximately 55,000 acres of salt marsh and mangrove tidal wetlands, oyster
bars, estuarine lagoons, upland habitat and offshore seas in Northeast
Florida. It contains the northern most extent of mangrove habitat on the east
coast of the United States. The coastal waters of the GTM Reserve are
important calving grounds for the endangered Right Whale. Manatees, Wood
Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons find refuge in
the reserve.

The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses approximately 55,000 acres of salt marsh and mangrove tidal wetlands, oyster bars, estuarine lagoons, upland habitat and offshore seas in Northeast Florida. It contains the northern most extent of mangrove habitat on the east coast of the United States.

The coastal waters of the GTM Reserve are important calving grounds for the endangered Right Whale. Manatees, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons find refuge in the reserve.

Castillo De San Marcos National Monument

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Nearby Parks

Fort Mose Historic State Park

Anastasia State Park

Fort Matanzas National Monument

Faver-Dykes State Park

Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park