Castillo de San Marcos

Castillo de San Marcos (1672-1900) - First established by the Spanish in 1672. Abandoned in 1900.

Earlier Fortifications

Prior to the building of Castillo de San Marcos there was a series of nine wooden forts built around that location over a period of about 100 years.

First Spanish Period (1670-1763)

Construction began in 1672 making it the oldest masonry fort in the United States.

British Period (1763 - 1783)

In the Treaty of Paris (1763) the Spanish ceded Florida to the British and Castillo de San Marcos became a British Fort. The fort was renamed by the British as Fort St. Mark and further improved.

Second Spanish Period (1783-1821)

With the Treaty of Paris (1783) control of Florida returned to the Spanish and the fort was returned to it's original name.

U.S. Period (1821-1900)

The Adams-Onis Treaty gave control of Florida to the United States and the fort was again renamed as Fort Marion.

Current Status

The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Period guns and mounts in place.

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Location: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St. Johns, Florida. Maps & Images Lat: 29.897857 Long: -81.3111544 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 2'

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 203-204

Links:

• North American Forts - Castillo de San Marcos
• NPS - Castillo de San Marcos

Visited: 16 Jan 2010

Castillo de San Marcos Picture Gallery

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