astillo de SanMarcos NATIONAL MONUMENT astillo deSan Marcos NATIONAL MONUMENT U. S. Department of the Interior, J. A. Krug, Secretary National Park Service, Newton D. Drury, Director

Castillo de San Marcos, in St. Augustine, Fla., was built 1672-1756 by Spain and was their northernmost military fortification on the Atlantic coast protecting the north- eastern dominions of Spain in America and giving safety to the homeward-bound Spanish plate fleet sailing the Gulf Stream route.

CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS is an ancient builders. The fort contains guardrooms, fortification dating from the Spanish Co- dungeons, living quarters for the garrison, lonial period in America. It represents storerooms, and a chapel. Nearly all the part of Spain's contribution to life in the rooms open on a court, about 100 feet New World, and'is symbolic of the explorer square. and pioneetspirit-the will to build from Although the castillo was the most im- the wilderness a newcenter of civilization portant fortification in colonial Florida, it and a hav@l1"it£gi't'i'iisdatnger. In this his- was by no means the only defense. Earth- toric structure, the Spanish people have works and palisades extended from the left us a heritage that is an important cul- castle to enclose the little town of St. tural connection with the Latin-American Augustine, an area of less than a square nations to .the south, as well as another mile. Far to the south, west, and north means of understanding the diverse old were military outposts. Sixteen miles to the ways that have contributed to the making south was the strongest of these, the stone of modern America. Torre de Matanzas (now Fort Matanzas National Monument), which guarded the Features.of the Castillo lower entrance to St. Augustine harbor. This castle, the oldest masonry fort existing Matanzas, the Spanish word for "slaugh- in the United States, was started in 1672 ters," derived its name in 1565 from the by the' Spanish to protect St. Augustine, bloody incident that determined the own- the first permanent white settlement in ership of Florida. this country. Castillo de (pronounced Ka- steel'-yo-day) San Marcos became a focal The Struggle for Florida point of Spanish colonial culture-Spain's Impregnable Castillo de San Marcos was last impregnable outpost on the shores of constructed because of international rivalry the North Atlantic. The castillo is a sym- over Florida. Spain claimed this area both metrically shaped, four-sided structure, by papal grant and through the discoveries constructed in the fashion developed by (15 13) of Ponce de Leon, the romantic the Spanish from earlier Italian engineers. adventurer in quest of the fountain of Surrounded by a moat 40 feet wide, its youth. Past Florida shores sailed the Span- only entrance is across a drawbridge. The ish fleets, homeward bound with fabulous great walls are from 9 to 16 feet thick, cargoes-gold, silver, and precious stones constructed of coquina blocks, a native from the looted treasuries of the Aztec and marine shell-rock. The coquina blocks are Inca. But, operating from the Florida cemented together by an oyster lime mor- coast, daring corsairs could seize the slow- tar. Beautifully arched casemates and moving galleons, and it was this threat to interesting cornices testify to the workman- Spanish commerce that led to the founding ship and imagination of the Spanish of St. Augustine as the military outpost by

16-50686-1 which Spain held Florida for 200 years In 1586, Sir Francis Drake burned St. Troubles arose on land and sea-runaway Revolution. When Charleston, S. C., fell and more. Augustine and its partially completed slaves, hostile Indians, pirates! Spain, ex- into British hands, prisoners, among them In 1564, French Huguenots had built wooden fort. pecting war, strengthened San Marcos and three signers of the Declaration of In- Fort Caroline on the St. Johns River, in In 1607, the English founded James- her other Florida defenses, and later built a dependence-Edward Rutledge, Thomas Florida. The next year, Spain sent Pedro town and soon began to make settlements fortified tower at Matanzas. Heyward, and Arthur Middleton-were Menendez de Aviles to drive out these both to the north and south of it. Spain, In 1740, Oglethorpe attacked St. Augus- taken to St. Augustine, and some of them "French heretics" and as Menendez sighted with its small garrison in Florida, needed tine. For 27 days during the heat of sum- were confined in the castle. By the Treaty Florida on August 28, St. Augustine's Day, a stronger fort if she wanted to hold this mer more than two thousand people were of Paris, Florida was returned to Spain in the colony he established was named St. territory. Two events forced her hand. In huddled together in the casemates and 1783. Augustine. 1668, English freebooters sacked and plun- the roo-foot square court of the castillo. Menendez accomplished his mission by dered St. Augustine, and in 1670, Charles- The Spanish continued to hold Matan- Florida Acquired by United States iron strategy. The superior force of French ton, only 200 miles from St. Augustine, zas, and when the English carelessly loos- soldiers sailed from Fort Caroline to attack was founded. As a result of the growing ened the blockade of that inlet, shallow- Runaway slaves and Indians were still an him, but they were shipwrecked and most British menace, the present stone fort, draft boats waiting off shore slipped over international problem. These marauders of them later slain at Matanzas, including Castillo de San Marcos, was constructed the bar, bringing desperately needed sup- made a practice of robbing Georgia planta- their leader, Jean Ribaut. The small garri- at the north entrance to St. Augustine plies and reenforcements from Havana. tion owners, who crossed the Spanish bor- son left at Caroline was taken in a surprise harbor. The first baptism of fire of the new The Tower of Matanzas had proved its der to run them down. The difficulties attack. stone fort came in 1702, when South Caro- worth. were partially solved when the United After the destruction of Ribaut and the linians under Gov. James Moore unsuccess- The English finally became disheartened States took possession of Florida in 182 I, French in Florida, Spain was not destined fully besieged it. Another South Carolina and gave up the siege. However, in 1763, according to the terms of the Treaty of to hold her position uncontested. Eng- attack in 1728 was likewise repulsed. they secured Florida by the terms of the 1819 which had been negotiated with land soon appeared as a powerful rival. When Gen. James Oglethorpe founded Treaty of Paris. Spain for the purchase of Florida. Preying on the West Indies and Florida, Georgia in 1733, rivalry between the Span- England held Florida for two decades, Under the American regime, the castillo English buccaneers caused endless trouble. ish and English became even more acute. including the critical years of the American for over a hundred years was named Fort CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS AND FORT MATANZAS NATIONAL MONUMENTS FLORIDA

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The stairway Ieadlng to the terrepiein, or roof, of the fort was ortgtnallv a smooth ramp up which the guna were dragged,

Marion in honor of Francis Marion, the a. m. to 5: 30 p. m. An admission fee of Revolutionary War hero. Meantime, trou- 10 cents is charged for those over 16 years ble with Indians increased. The Second of age, with the exception of members of Seminole Indian War broke out in 1835. school groups who are admitted free up to Fort Marion became a prison. The most 18 years of age. Free guide service is avail- famous of its prisoners at this time was able to all visitors. Organizations and z Osceola, the Seminole Indian leader. The groups will be given special service if ar- Indian prince Coacoochee, another pris- rangements are made in advance with the oner, made a difficult escape from the fort Superintendent. One of the rooms houses in 1837 to renew the warfare against the a small museum. whites. Except for a short Confederate occupa- Administration tion, the fort continued in use as a prison The Castillo de San Marcos was declared or arsenal. Here, among his western Indian a national monument by Presidential proc- prisoners, Capt. R. H. Pratt conducted the lamation of October 15, 1924. It is one of experiments that led to his later founding 169 areas administered by the National of Carlisle Indian School. Geronimo's Park Service of the Department of the In- band of Apaches were prisoners during the terior which belong to the people of the 1880'S. The Spanish-American War period United States and are preserved for their ( 1898-99) marked the last active military benefit and enjoyment. use of the fort, with the confinement in its Related areas commemorating the Span- musty rooms of about 150 court-martialed ish-English rivalry in the southeastern o American soldiers. section of this country are Fort Matanzas The castillo has lost its usefulness for National Monument, St. Augustine, Fla., military purposes but not its charm for the and Fort Frederica National Monument, St. visitor. The secret dungeon, the shot fur- Simon Island, Ga. Communications con- nace, guardrooms, and the chapel are of cerning these areas should be addressed to continuing interest. The old castle stands the Superintendent, Castillo de San proudly on the banks of the Matanzas 0", Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine, River, vested with its mantle of antiquity. Fla. From its massive walls are seen the old city Revised 1-946. gates (a part of the national monument) and the narrow streets of the quaint town A lb-page illustrated booklet on Castillo which it protected for more than two and de San Marcos National Monument and a half centuries. Fort Matanzas National Monument may be purchased from the superintendent of fORT JEFFERSON 0> NAT'L MON. Service to the Public the area or from the Superintendent, of Castillo de San Marcos National Monu- Documents, Government Printing Office, VICINITY MAP ment is open the entire year, from 8: 30 Washington 2.1, D. C., for 10 cents;

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTiNG OFFICE' 16-50686-1