Fort Matanzas

Fort Matanzas (1740-1821) - First established by the Spanish at the entrance to St. Augustine Harbor in 1740. Named ..... after ...... Abandoned in 1821.

Second Spanish Period (1783-1821)

Control of Florida and the fort was returned to Spain in the 1783 with the Treaty of Paris (1783). Spanish influence in the world had waned and they could no longer afford to maintain a vast network of remote outposts and Fort Matanzas fell into disrepair. By 1821 the fort was already in ruins.

U.S. Control

In the 1819 Adams-Onis Treaty Spain ceded control of Florida and Oregon to the United States. This treaty was not ratified until 1821 and the full effects were not felt until 1822. U.S. troops did not garrison the fort after 1822 because it was considered of little military value and there were more pressing problems elsewhere. The fort remained in ruins until 1933 when it was transferred to the National Park Service and preservation efforts began.

Current Status

Period guns and mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Matanzas National Monument, St. Johns County, Florida. Maps & Images Lat: 29.715235 Long: -81.239018 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 3'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 185-186

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Matanzas
• NPS - Fort Matanzas National Monument

Visited: 16 Jan 2010

Fort Matanzas Picture Gallery

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