Anastasia

HISTORY More than 300 years ago, sites such as the coquina quarries located within present-day Anastasia State Park were busy with workers, mostly Native Americans, hauling out blocks of rock. By the late 1700s, the Native American population had diminished and quarry workers were usually enslaved Africans and captured Europeans. With hand tools, they hewed out blocks of the soft shellstone and pried the squares loose along natural layers in the rock. The blocks were loaded onto ox-drawn carts then barged across Matanzas Bay to the town of St. Augustine, where they were used to construct the Castillo de San Marcos and many other buildings. From its founding in 1565, St. Augustine was a struggling outpost of Spain’s North American empire. Spanish soldiers built the fort and their homes out of the plentiful pine trees and palmetto. Time after time their wooden settlement was destroyed by storms or burned by pirates and other raiders. On Anastasia Island, the Spaniards discovered a better building material — deposits of a rock made of broken shells. As early as 1598, they dug enough to build a gunpowder storage magazine, but they lacked the workforce, the engineering skills and the tools to excavate enough for a large structure. In 1671, large-scale quarrying began in the stone pits. Coquina rock is relatively soft and easy to cut while in the ground and hardens when exposed to air. The Spanish learned to waterproof the stone walls by coating them with plaster and paint. When besieging ships bombarded the Castillo, the walls simply absorbed the cannon balls. Coquina continued to be a prized building material for the Spanish, British (1763-83) and the Americans (1821). ANASTASIA STATE PARK 300 Anastasia Park Road St. Augustine, FL 32080 904-461-2033 PARK GUIDELINES • • • • • • • • • Hours are 8 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year. An entrance fee is required. All plants, animals and park property are protected. Collection, destruction or disturbance is prohibited. Pets are prohibited on beaches, in buildings and on boardwalks. Pets must be kept on a handheld leash no longer than six feet and be well-behaved at all times. Fishing, boating, swimming and fires are allowed in designated areas only. A Florida fishing license may be required. Fireworks and hunting are prohibited in all Florida State Parks. Become a volunteer. Visit FloridaStateParks. org/volunteers for information. For camping information, contact Reserve America at 800-326-3521 or 866-I CAMP FL or TDD 888-433-0287 or visit ReserveAmerica.com. Florida State Parks are committed to providing all visitors accessible and reasonable accommodations to park facilities and programs. Should you need assistance to enable your participation, please contact the Ranger Station. Visit us online at FloridaStateParks.org Follow us on social media FloridaStateParks.org #FLStateParks ANASTASIA STATE PARK Paradise near historic St. Augustine Anastasia State Park Bird Island Salt Run EXPERIENCES & AMENITIES Anastasia’s beautiful beach attracts walkers, joggers, anglers, birders and nature-lovers. Beach breaks and seasonally warm water draw surfers and kayakers. Hike the beach and look for birds, dolphins and whales. Bicyclists enjoy more than 4 miles of beach and several miles of park roads. Island Beach Shop and Grill sells beach, camping and fishing supplies, and rents bicycles and surfboards. Anastasia Watersports rents canoes, kayaks, sailboats and stand-up paddleboards, and lessons on various watersports are available. Anastasia has three picnic areas with tables and restrooms, in addition to three playgrounds. Inquire at the Ranger Station about renting a pavilion for a group picnic. Anastasia’s full-facility campground features 139 sites with electric and water hookups for RVs and tents. A dump station is available at no extra charge. Hot water showers and laundry facilities are available. Wifi hotspots are available at Island Beach Shop and Grill as well as day use parking. Anastasia’s Bedtime Story Camper Lending Library for campers ages 4 to 9 offers picture books about the sights and sounds found in the park. Ask to check out a book at the ranger station. Directions From I-95 take exit 311. Go east on State Road 207. Turn right on State Road 312 (east). Turn left (north) on A1A. Travel approximately 1.5 miles north to main park entrance. Camping No Swimming Swimmers should exercise caution! Warnings are posted for your protection. Ranger Station Playground Showers Coquina Quarry Atlantic Ocean St. Augustine Amphitheater Restrooms Picnicking Parking Swimming Surfing Fishing Concession 00203_Rev_08.18