Castillo De San Marcos National Monument

Declared as a National Monument in 1924, Castillo De San Marcos is the oldest standing fort in the US. It is one of the only two forts constructed with coquina. Coquina refers to a soft limestone mixed with broken shells. The soft characteristic of this limestone allowed them the ability to absorb the enemy’s projectiles instead of breaking apart. The Castillo De San Marcos Fort served different military forces for 251 years until it became a National Monument in 1924. The construction of Castillo De San Marcos was ordered by Governor Francisco De La Guerra Y De La Vega in 1672. It was designed by renowned Spanish Architect, Ignacio Daza.

The History Of Castillo De San Marcos

In 1763 the British forces gained control of Florida and renamed the monument Fort St Marks.  After 20 years the Spanish government regained control of Florida following the Peace of Paris treaty. They restored the original name of Castillo De San Marcos. The fort eventually became a part of the newly formed United States following the Adams-Onis Treaty in 1821.

The United States commissioned the port as an army base and changed the name to Fort Marion, honoring Francis Marion, the revolutionary war hero. The fort was also used as a military prison by the army to jail many members of different Indian tribes including Seminole, Apache, and Cheyenne. The US military deactivated the base in 1924 and possession was transferred to the National Park Services in 1933. The name Fort St Marks stayed with the force even after it was declared a national monument until 1942. It was then that the original name of Castillo De San Marcos National Monument was restored by the US Congress.

Today’s Visitors To Castillo De San Marcos Witness Live Enactments

Today’s visitors to Castillo De San Marcos National Monument enjoy the engineering marvel of a magnificent structure. This monument has resisted the combative forces of the British army and many pirates. There are many exhibitions in the fort portraying the resilience and fascinating history of the fort. The guided tours and recent virtual tours allow visitors to hear live cannons and witness the live enactments performed by park staff in their colonial 18th-century outfits.