Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Begun in 1672 and completed by 1695, Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved example of a Spanish colonial fortification in the continental United States.
Located on the western shore of Matanzas Bay in St. Augustine, Florida, the 17th century stone fortress was constructed with local coquina stone. It replaced nine successive wooden fortifications that had protected St. Augustine since its founding.
The fort's commanding location on the west bank of the bay allowed its guns to protect not only the harbor entrance but the ground to the north against a land attack.
Fort San Marcos is a symmetrical four-bastioned 145-foot square structure with a ravelin to shield the gate from attack. The height of the walls is 30 feet.
The south, west, and north sides of the square and the ravelin are surrounded by a 40-foot-wide moat.
On the east side, there is a water battery between the Castillo wall and the sea. Access to the Castillo is secured over a drawbridge to the ravelin and over another drawbridge from the ravelin to the structure itself.
From the courtyard, there is access to 23 open rooms, through which another eight can be reached.
Over the years, the fort has served under the flags of Spain, Great Britain, the United States, and the Confederate States of America, with all ownership changes happening through treaty or diplomatic transfer, never military defeat.
Castillo de San Marcos, renamed Fort Marion in 1821 by the United States, was declared a National Monument in 1924 and deactivated in 1933 after more than two-and-a-half centuries of military service. Subsequently, it was turned over to the care of the National Park Service.
In 1942, the original name, Castillo de San Marcos, was restored by an Act of Congress.
You can explore more of the state's rich history on the Unearthing Florida page.
Sandra Averhart
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WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America. This is an example of Spanish soldiers' quarters.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America. This is an example of British soldiers' quarters, which slept four.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America. This is a view of the courtyard from the upper level of the fort.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America. Here's a close look at the fort wall made of coquina stone.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart
/
WUWF Public Media
Built from coquina and completed in 1695, Castillo de San Marcos protected the city of St. Augustine for more than two centuries, until its deactivation in the early 1900s. During a recent visit, WUWF's Sandra Averhart toured the structure, which is the oldest masonry fort and best-preserved 17th-century Spanish colonial stone fort in North America.
Sandra Averhart has been News Director at WUWF since 1996. Her first job in broadcasting was with (then) Pensacola radio station WOWW107-FM, where she worked 11 years. Sandra, who is a native of Pensacola, earned her B.S. in Communication from Florida State University.
