St Augustine

Lying on the coast and rich in history is St Augustine, a place we have driven by several times but never stopped. Being less than a hours drive away and looking for an adventurous road trip we decided on St Augustine and in particular the fort of Castillo de San Marcos. Before starting out we noticed several prescribed burns in the area and were thinking twice about going. After checking in at the ranger’s station we were reassured that they were miles away. Easy for them to say since prescribed burns use to be called controlled burns. That’s right controlled. Well as the story goes enough of these burns became uncontrolled leading to large areas being destroyed by an out of control fire. Hence the renaming “prescribed burn”. We decided to go anyway leaving our trust in the knowledgeable forest fire people that it won’t get away from them.

In 1513 Florida was claimed by Spain through the expeditions of Ponce de Leon. St Augustine was established in 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles and was the oldest permanent European settlement in the continental United States. It was the political, military, and religious capital of the Province of Florida where Spain ruled for over 235 years. Spanish fleets would sail home from these tropical territories laden with sugar, tobacco, chocolate, pearls, silver, and gold. These products would bring high prices in Europe. Consequently, this made Spain the most powerful and envied nation in Renaissance Europe.

Recognizing the need for a permanent fortification, the construction of Castillo de San Marcos began in 1672 and was completed in 1695. It is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. This star shaped masonry fort was made from a stone called coquina meaning small shells. Because of the softness of coquina, cannonballs would sink into the structure rather than shatter or puncture it.

Star shaped masonry fort

The fort was built from coquina
meaning small shells

Susan standing on the only entrance to the fort

The four corners of the fort are protected by diamond shaped bastions. This allowed cannons in one bastion to create crossfire with two other bastions when under attack.

Standing on top of the fort

Looking out at Matanzas Bay

The flag that flies above the fort is known as The Burgundy Cross or the Cross of St Andrews. It became the flag of Spain after Philip of Burgundy ascended the Spanish throne. It was Spain’s flag from 1506-1785. Castillo was once white and trimmed in red to match the flag. It represented Spain’s claim and power over La Florida.

Flag of Spain  1506-1785

The fort is littered with several interesting artifacts and weapons of the time. One such weapon is a bronze 15 inch mortar cannon that was made in 1724 in Barcelona Spain. Its range was 1.2 mile. This particular cannon was captured by the United States during the Spanish American War in 1898.

Mortar cannon

After the siege of 1702 by the British in which St Augustine was burned to the ground, the Spanish surrounded the town with a wall made of earth and palm logs. It also included a wide but shallow moat. The only entrance into the city was from the north. Part of this wall, called the Cubo Line is present on the park grounds.

Part of the Cubo Line that surrounded the city of St Augustine

The Spanish kept the moat dry thereby allowing domestic animals to graze. However, during land attacks the moat could be filled with sea water by opening gates along the seawall. The embankment around the outside of the fort is called a glacis. It protects and shields the lower fort walls from cannon fire.

The walls of the fort surrounded by a moat

Spain held Florida until 1821 when serious Spanish American tensions led to its cession to the United States. In 1933 the fort was transferred from the war department to the National Parks Service.

After a great time exploring the fort our stomachs were yelling at us to feed me please. So away we go on the hunt for a quiet little restaurant preferably over looking the ocean. St Augustine delivered again. We found a great place not far away called South Beach Grill.

Great location

Nice view

Maui Maui fish burger...it was fantastic