"Cannon Firing" by NPS Photo , public domain
Castillo de San MarcosJunior Ranger |
Junior Rangers at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (NM) in Florida. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
featured in
National Parks Pocket Maps | ||
Florida Pocket Maps |
Agustín’s
Adventure
Instructions
Welcome to the Castillo de San Marcos! My name is Agustín, and
I will be your guide. This Junior Ranger booklet has two levels.
You may choose the level that works best for you.
Basic
To receive your badge, complete
SIX pages of activities.
Advanced
To receive your badge and Master Junior Ranger
patch, complete ALL pages of activities, except
for the color-by-numbers.
While you are at the Castillo, please be safe
and treat the fort with respect. Do not sit,
stand, or climb on any of the cannons or
on the walls of the fort. The stone the fort
is built out of is very fragile to the human
touch, and we would like the Castillo to be
here for many more years. We want to
preserve this National Monument for
future generations.
As a Junior Ranger, it will be your job to
help us with this! If you see your family
sitting on the walls, politely ask them
not to, and tell them why.
Colonial American Cities
In this letter, there are four underlined
cities. On the map, there are four cities marked
with stars. Draw a line to match the name of the
city to its location on the map.
The letter will help you figure out where
they are located.
December, 1670
To Her Most Catholic Majesty, Queen Mariana,
I am writing to you on behalf of the people of the city
of San Agustín in La Florida. Our town has been left
defenseless since the burning of our wooden fort by
pirates two years ago, and we have just learned that the
British have founded a new colony directly to the north of
us, called Charles Towne, Carolina.
I am writing to beg you for the money to build a stone
fort for our city’s protection. The threat of attack grows
greater every day. North of Charles Towne, the British
long ago settled in Jamestowne, Virginia. If English
forces attack our city, we are left defenseless. The closest
help would have to come from the Spanish colony in La
Habana, Cuba, far to the south of us.
Queen Mariana, we beseech you, please help our
city raise the funds for a stone fortress for our protection.
Your Most Faithful Servant,
Agustín
1
The Columbian Exchange
The exchange of plants, animals, and ideas between the Old World and the New World.
When the Europeans came to the New World, they brought
many new things with them. Can you label these?
Castillo Construction
The walls of the Castillo are made out of a
stone called coquina. Look closely at this
picture and the walls, but do not touch.
The stone is fragile.
What is coquina made of?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
2
Parts of the Castillo
shot furnace
courtyard
bastions
well
ravelin
moat
Use our brochure to learn about these parts of the fort,
then fill in the sentences below !
1. The _______________ in front of the drawbridge protected the
entrance from enemy cannon fire.
2. The __________ was usually dry, not wet, and the Spanish could put
livestock in it if they were under attack.
3. The __________ inside the courtyard provided fresh water.
4. The ______________ are the diamond-shaped corners of the fort.
These allowed cannons to be placed for deadly crossfire.
5. The ________________ is where soldiers practiced marching and
drilling with their muskets.
6. The ___________________, which was built later by the U.S. Army,
was used to heat cannonballs up red-hot to fire at wooden ships!
3
Colonial Life
Answer the questions in each box. Next to your answers, you
will read about boys and girls who lived in colonial times!
What chores do you do at home?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
What do you do for fun?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
What do you want to be
when you grow up?
____________________________
____________________________
What do you learn at school?
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Boys
Girls
Chopping Wood
Feeding Animals
Hunting
Grinding Corn
Spinning
Weaving
Colonial children often did outdoor
activities for fun, such as swimming,
fishing, and flying kites.
Boys
Girls
Farmers
Soldiers
Surgeons
Teachers
Mothers
Tavern Keepers
Many poorer children did not go to
school. They learned from their
parents. Boys learned to farm and
hunt. Girls learned household tasks
like cooking and sewing.
You and colonial children still have some things in common!
Many colonial kids played games that we still play today. Hopscotch, tag,
dominoes, marbles, jacks, and pick-up sticks were all popular in the colonial era.
4
Learn Spanish
Answer the questions in Spanish!
Colores
rojo (ro-hoh)
azul (ah-sool)
verde (ver-day)
amarillo (ah-mah-ree-yoh)
marrón (mah-roan)
blanco (blahn-koh)
negro (neh-groh)
Colors
red
blue
green
yellow
brown
white
black
Ropa
sombrero (som-bray-roh)
calzones (cal-sone-es)
casaca (ka-sak-ah)
zapatos (sah-pah-tos)
chaleco (cha-leh-coh)
camisa (ka-mee-sah)
medias (may-dee-ahs)
vueltas (voo-el-tas)
sandalias (san-dah-lee-as)
Clothing
hat
pants
coat
shoes
vest
shirt
stockings
cuffs
sandals
Otro
soldado (sol-dah-doh)
fusil (fyoo-seal)
espada (es-pah-dah)
sí (see)
no (noh)
Other
soldier
musket
sword
yes
no
1. The soldado’ s sombrero is _____________ with a ____________ bow.
2. What color are his vueltas? _____________ His medias? ______________
3. What parts of the soldado’s uniform are azul? _____________ and ___________.
4. The soldado has una espada. Sí or no? ________
5. The soldado is wearing sandalias. Sí or no? ________
6. Can you see his chaleco rojo? Sí or no? ________
5
Weaponry
The cannons were the main line of defense for the Castillo.
The Spanish soldiers had to go through many steps to fire the
cannons. To do this drill, they used many different tools.
Here are some pictures of the cannon tools.
Watch our movie to see how the cannon drill works. Draw a
line to match each tool to its description, and write the order
in which they are used (Steps 1, 2, 3, and 4).
Lanada (Sponge)
Step ___
Atacador (Rammer)
Step ___
Cuchara (Ladle)
Step ___
Sacatrapos (Worm)
Step ___
Shaped like a big scoop, this
tool was used to check the gun
before it was fired.
The end of this tool was
wrapped in soft wool to soak
up water and clean the cannon.
A tool shaped like a cork-screw
was used to pull any leftover
trash out of the cannon.
This tool was used to push the
gunpowder and cannonball all
the way down the cannon.
Did you know that cannons could fire more than just cannonballs?
Chain shot is two iron balls attached by a chain.
It is very good for destroying a ship’s sails.
Canister is a metal can full of musket balls. It acted like a big shotgun shell.
Grape shot is similar to canister, but with small cannonballs and
wrapped in cloth. It looks like a bunch of grapes!
6
Multiple Militaries
1672: The Spanish begin construction!
The Castillo has changed hands
between countries many times over
the years, but always by a treaty or
agreement, never by losing a battle.
Its most important job has always
been to protect people.
1763: The British arrive.
Which country’s military used the fort
the longest? (Hint: which flag is bigger?)
1784: The Spanish come back!
___________________
How would YOU use the Castillo to
protect people today?
____________________
____________________
1821: The United States takes over. ___________________
___________________
1861: Confederate soldiers arrive.
1862: The United States comes back!
1900: The U.S. Army decides to decommission the fort,
which means they no longer used it for military purposes.
7
Dear Junior Ranger,
Draw your picture here.
My name is Ahkes. I am a Comanche Indian, and I
am 10 years old. My mom, dad, and I were
brought to the Castillo with a group of prisoners. I
was the only child at the fort. It was lonely, but I
liked to draw pictures for fun. The jailor bought us
sketchbooks, crayons, colored pencils, and
watercolors. I drew pictures and sent them to my
family out west. I was imprisoned here from 1875
to 1878, but I am sure it looks different now.
Draw a picture of what the fort looks like today.
Include all the interesting things you see.
This is an example of ledger art, a type of Native
American artwork usually done on paper. Captain
Pratt bought sketchbooks for prisoners at the fort.
This image shows the first Pow Wow in Florida,
performed by prisoners inside the Castillo.
8
The National Park Service at the Castillo
Ask a Ranger or Volunteer!
Why do you like working with the National Park Service?
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_______________________________
Signature
President Calvin Coolidge made the Castillo de San Marcos a National
Monument in 1924. Almost ten years later, the National Park Service took over
the care of the fort. Since 1933, the National Park Service has cared for the
Castillo, preserving the site for future generations to visit and enjoy. Today,
most of the standing structure is original. Visiting the fort is like taking a step
back in time. When you look at the walls of the fort, you are seeing the same
building that Spanish, British, and American soldiers looked at one hundred, two
hundred, and even three hundred years ago. This is one of the oldest structures
in the United States, and it is the job of the National Park Service to make sure it
remains standing for another one hundred, two hundred, or even three hundred
years. Park Rangers love working at our National Parks.
You may also meet a Volunteer at the
Castillo, someone who spends their time
helping people without being paid. Some
of the Volunteers dress in soldiers’
uniforms and fire the cannons on the
weekends!
9
The Arrowhead
The Arrowhead is the official
logo of the National Park
Service. Each symbol in the
logo represents something
we have a mission to
preserve or protect.
Arrowhead: History & Archeology
Sequoia Tree: Plants
Mountain & Lake:
Scenery & Recreation
Bison: Wildlife
Think about what you
have seen and experienced
while visiting the fort.
Create and label your own
logo for the Castillo!
10
“Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures.”
When we recycle, we take old, used items and turn them into
new things. If we recycle, then we don’t leave behind as much
trash. In colonial St. Augustine, people reused almost everything
because it would take a very long time to get anything new. Old
clothes were turned into cleaning rags. Old metal could be
melted down to make new tools.
What can YOU recycle at home?
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Cross out which things DO NOT belong in the Castillo.
Cannon
Trash
Pirate
Flintlock
Pistol
Soldier
Pets
Park Ranger
Food and
Drink
You!
(Draw a picture
of yourself.)
11
Reflect On Your Visit
The National Park Service is dedicated to preserving the Castillo de
San Marcos because it is an important part of American history.
Take time to think about why this place is so important.
What have you learned at the fort? List at least three facts that you
didn’t know before you visited the Castillo.
In your opinion, why should we preserve the
Castillo for future generations of Junior Rangers?
12
Imagine you are living in St. Augustine when an enemy
attacks. Write a letter to your relatives in Spain. Are you a soldier
defending the Castillo, or a civilian taking care of your family at
home? Are you afraid? What do you think will happen?
If you can’t finish your booklet while you’re here, please mail it to
us! We will return the book along with your badge and patch.
Master Junior Ranger
1 South Castillo Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32084
13
Color-By-Numbers to Do At Home!
Spanish Soldier
British Soldier
3
3
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
3
3
3
3
14
1. Red
2. Dark Blue
3. Black
The bow on his hat is red
and the trim is yellow. His
buttons are brass.
3
3
1. Red
2. Dark Blue
3. Black
The bow on his hat is black,
and the trim is white. His
buttons are silver.
Color-By-Numbers to Do At Home!
Confederate Soldier
Union Soldier
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
1. Grey
2. Blue
3. Black
His buttons are copper.
3
3
1. Dark Blue
2. Light Blue
3. Black.
His buttons are brass.
15
Connections to Our History!
Fort Mosé Historical State Park
In 1738, the Spanish governor of
Florida chartered Gracia Real de Santa
Teresa de Mosé, or Fort Mosé, the
first legally free black settlement in
North America. The fort was built on
the edge of a marsh, two miles north
of St. Augustine and the Castillo. In
1740, when British soldiers attacked
St. Augustine, Fort Mosé was a
bandoned at first, but the brave
militiamen of Mosé recaptured their
home from the British and forced
them to retreat back to Georgia.
Fort Matanzas National Monument
Fifteen miles south of the city of St.
Augustine, there is a small inlet into
the Matanzas River. After the attack
by the British in 1740, the Spanish
realized if they were attacked again,
the enemy could block that inlet to
keep supplies from reaching the
Castillo. To prevent this, the Spanish
started building Fort Matanzas in
autumn of 1740. Shortly before it was
finished in 1742, the British tried to
come through the inlet. Fort
Matanzas fired two shots, and the
British retreated.
Become a Junior Ranger at Fort Matanzas as well!
16
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fortification in North
America. It was constructed between 1672 and 1695 under the Spanish
government with labor from the local Timucuan Indians. British forces
obtained the fort in 1763 as a result of the French and Indian War, but the
Spanish regained control in 1784 at the end of the American Revolution.
Florida became a United States territory in 1821, and the Castillo, renamed Fort
Marion, was used as a supply depot, a military base, and a Native American prison over the years. The fort was named a National Monument in 1924, and the
National Park Service restored its original name, Castillo de San Marcos, in
1942. Today, the Castillo is an immensely popular tourist attraction, and it
helps tell the unique story of St. Augustine, the oldest continuously
inhabited European settlement in the United States.
Visit us online at www.nps.gov/casa