Castillo de San Marcos
Castillo de San Marcos (1672-1900) - First established by the Spanish in 1672. Abandoned in 1900.
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The Castillo de San Marcos is a masonry star fort built up over a number of years to have four named full bastions, San Pedro, San Agustine, San Carlos, San Pablo and a significant ravelin protecting the sally port. The 35' high walls were surrounded by a wet moat and earthworks. The walls were constructed of coquina stone, a local stone made of shells that is similar to limestone. The stone was quarried on Anastasia Island and shipped to the fort by boat. This stone has a significant quality in that it could absorb shell fire without significant damage.
The central court was a quadrangle with four almost equal sides of about 110' with casemates on the lower level. The upper level gun decks are supported by arches.
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 (1672-1763)
Construction began in 1672 and was completed in 1695, 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 in 1825. The fort remained a part of the U.S. Coast Defense from 1844 to 1866. The east moat was transformed into a Second System water battery during this period.
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 |
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:
Visited: 16 Jan 2010
Castillo de San Marcos Picture Gallery
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