The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States and is Located on the western shore of Matanzas Bay in the city of St. Augustine, Florida. Construction began in 1672, 107 years after the city's founding by Spanish Admiral and conquistador Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire. The fort's construction was ordered by Governor Francisco de la Guerra y de la Vega after the destructive raid by the English privateer Robert Searles in 1668. The construction of the core of the current fortress was completed in 1695.
Under United States control the fort was used as a military prison to incarcerate members of Native American tribes starting with the Seminole—including the famous war chief, Osceola, in the Second Seminole War—and members of western tribes, including Geronimo's band of Chiricahua Apache.
Junior Rangers at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (NM) in Florida. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
Castillo de San Marcos NM
https://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_de_San_Marcos
The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States and is Located on the western shore of Matanzas Bay in the city of St. Augustine, Florida. Construction began in 1672, 107 years after the city's founding by Spanish Admiral and conquistador Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire. The fort's construction was ordered by Governor Francisco de la Guerra y de la Vega after the destructive raid by the English privateer Robert Searles in 1668. The construction of the core of the current fortress was completed in 1695.
Under United States control the fort was used as a military prison to incarcerate members of Native American tribes starting with the Seminole—including the famous war chief, Osceola, in the Second Seminole War—and members of western tribes, including Geronimo's band of Chiricahua Apache.
Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural intersections.
On State Route A1A overlooking Matanzas Bay in the heart of the historic district of Saint Augustine, the Castillo is approximately a five mile drive from Interstate 95.
Castillo Drawbridge
Drawbridge entrance to the Castillo de San Marcos
Crossing a dry moat, this drawbridge was the only way into the Castillo.
Castillo de San Marcos Hot Shot Furnace
Furnace for heating cannon balls
This furnace, in the water battery on the east side of the Castillo, heated cannonballs red hot to be fired at wooden vessels.
Castillo de San Marcos Cannon
Four black iron cannon mounted on carriages line the walls of the Castillo.
The Castillo features both iron and bronze cannon and mortar from the period.
Castillo de San Marcos Cannon Firing
Re-enactors of the first Spanish period cover their ears while firing a cannon.
Cannon firing demonstrations are scheduled five times a day every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Castillo de San Marcos Aerial View
Aerial view of the Castillo and the city of St. Augustine
the Castillo commands the northern edge of the heart of downtown St. Augsutine.
Archaeology Activity
"One man's trash is another man's treasure." What?! Complete an archaeology activity to discover how "trash" can teach us a lot about people from the past.
Shell Midden Mound, a hill with shells and grass.
NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Florida
Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park.
fortress walls
Build Your Own Cannon
Experience a cannon firing, examine 3D models of artillery, and build your own paper cannon.
Cannon with two Spanish soldiers and flag on gun deck of Castillo.
Castillo Virtual Ranger
Become a Virtual Ranger at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument!
Image of Virtual Ranger arrowhead, images of a computer screen, and fort outline.
Colonial Games
Learn about colonial games and make your own toy.
Two children are playing checkers in the grass.
Build Your Own Fort
Do you have what it takes to defend your town? Construct your own fort out of materials you have at home!
Image of sand castle on beach.
Civil Rights in Colonial St. Augustine
In 1606, one year before the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, the first documented slave birth was recorded in St. Augustine, FL.
Cannon Experiment
Did you know cannons harnessed the power of a chemical reaction to function? Discover more by conducting an experiment using the scientific method to produce a chemical reaction with an Alka-Seltzer cannon. Apply what you learn about chemical reactions to the loading and firing of cannon to understand the reality faced by the gun crews at the Castillo and Fort Matanzas.
Cannon Diagram
Climate Change
Have you ever felt stronger as part of a group? The history of the Castillo de San Marcos shows us that there's strength in numbers -- a lesson to remember as we face the challenge posed by climate change.
Illustration of the northeast bastion with water and palm trees in background.
National Park Service Commemoration of the 19th Amendment
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment the National Park Service has developed a number of special programs. This includes online content, exhibits, and special events. The National Park Service’s Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) announces the release of a story map that highlights some of these programs and provides information for the public to locate and participate.
Opening slide of the 19th Amendment NPS Commemoration Story Map
Coloring Pages - Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas
Looking for a home or classroom activity for the kids? Enjoy these coloring pages that were created by rangers and volunteers!
Young boy with coloring page of a cartoon fort soldier
Castillo de San Marcos Bark Ranger
Do you like exploring downtown St. Augustine and the park grounds outside Castillo de San Marcos with your canine friend? Learn about the B.A.R.K. Ranger program!
Image of a dog with a ranger outside Castillo de San Marcos
Sustainability
Explore opportunities to protect resources in the park and at home.
Photograph of a water refill station at Castillo.
Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas National Monuments Cultural Landscapes
Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas, both in present-day northeastern Florida, represent the best-preserved evidence of the Spanish Empire’s 287-year presence in southeastern North America. The oldest masonry fortification remaining in the continental United States, Castillo de San Marcos formed the core of a system of defenses. The fort landscapes reflect conventions of military engineering and the later changes and preservation efforts by the U.S. War Department.
A furnace in an area of turf between the masonry wall of a fort and a seawall alongside water.
50 Nifty Finds #5: Keeping Their Cool
The park ranger uniform is known the world over. Perhaps the most iconic part of the uniform is the broad-brimmed flat hat. Over the last century, however, many different kinds of hats have been worn by rangers depending on their gender, where they work, the season of the year, and the jobs they do. While a pith helmet may bring up images of Colonial Britain, World War II soldiers, explorers, or people on safaris, for a while it was also be worn by some park rangers.
Tan pith helmet with a silver Sequoia cone on the front
2022 Freeman Tilden Award Recipients
View recipients of the National Park Service Freeman Tilden Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to the practice of interpretation and education by NPS employees.
Two women work with a tree while a young man records audio.
50 Nifty Finds #39: An NPS Art Factory
Between 1938 and 1941 the National Park Service (NPS) Western Museum Laboratories (WML) created many iconic posters. Often described as “the WPA park posters,” they should be called “the WML posters.” Research reveals more designs than previously thought (including several previously unknown ones), reevaluates what is known about the artists, and argues that modern reproductions have made the designs more significant to NPS graphic identity today than they were in the past.
Poster with a purple El Capitan at Yosemite
50 Nifty Finds #45: Holding the Line
The National Park Service (NPS) was only 26 years old when the United States entered World War II. The young bureau faced very real threats to its mission, with increasing pressure to contribute its natural and cultural resources to the war effort even as its budget and staff were slashed. Under the leadership of Director Newton B. Drury, the NPS was able to do its part for the war while maintaining its public trust responsibilities to the American people.
Worth Fighting For fire prevention poster
Zora Neale Hurston and Cudjo's Own Story
In 2018, "Barracoon" by Zora Neale Hurston was published posthumously. This book told the story of Cudjo Lewis a survivor of the "Clotilda", one of the last ships to bring enslaved people from Africa to the United States. In this article learn about Hurston's journey to write this book and Cudjo's story.
A Black man stands in a suit outside.
For your safety and for the protection of the Castillo and its historical artifacts,
PLEASE do not climb, sit, or stand on the fragile shell stone walls or on the cannons or cannon carriages.
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Self-Guided Walking Tour
Castillo de San Marcos
National Monument
St. Augustine, Florida
Room Legend
Eastern National Bookstore
Get your Passport Stamp here!
Orientation
Junior Ranger Station
Second Spanish Period
Religion at the Castillo
Construction and Design
American Occupation
Contest of Nations
Artillery Complex
First Spanish Period
Preservation
British Period
The Soldiers’ Life
THEATER
COURTYARD
First Aid is available in the Sally Port and at the ticket booth.
Welcome!
WELL
TO THE GUNDECK
CANNON FIRINGS
Each room marked on the map with a circular icon contains an exhibit panel also
marked with the same icon. These panels, as well as the other displays in each room,
will help tell you the story of Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. The rooms
shaded in grey are currently closed to the public. On the back of this page, you will find
more information about the individual rooms and other parts of the fort.
You have entered one of the most extraordinary places in the United States,
incorporating over 335 years of history and culture. Construction of the
Castillo de San Marcos began in 1672, making it one of the oldest standing
structures in North America. The fort has undergone many renovations and
changes over the years but appears today much as it would have looked
at its final completion in 1756.
SALLY
PORT
ENTRANCE
The Castillo was initially built by the Spanish to protect their vast empire in the
Americas. Engineer Ignacio Daza designed a fortress using a bastion system. The starlike outline of the Castillo is formed by diamond shaped projections, called bastions, on
each corner of the fort. This design eliminates blind spots for the guards in the garitas,
or sentry boxes, at each bastion point and increases the fort’s firepower boy allowing
multiple cannons to fire on the same target, creating a crossfire effect. For an aerial
view of the Castillo, please see the full-color park brochure.
Self-Guided Walking Tour
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Castillo de San Marcos
National Monument
St. Augustine, Florida
Your tour begins in the Sally Port, the entrance of the fortress. This was the only way in or out of the Castillo. Here
you can see the large drawbridge and the portcullis, the heavy sliding door. Between these two wooden barriers, the
strength of the Castillo is apparent. The thickness of the outer walls varies from 14 to 19 feet thick at the base and
tapers to 9 feet towards the top. Note the blocks of coquina stone that make up these walls and how they were set
together. There are over 400,000 blocks of stone in the Castillo, all of it cut and set by hand.
There are several rooms that are accessible only through the Sally Port. To the right are the Spanish guard rooms
and a locked room that served as the town jail. During Spanish occupation, soldiers did not live inside the Castillo.
They walked to work from their homes in town. The soldiers detailed to be on overnight guard duty would have used
these rooms to rest, cook food, and spend free time socializing and playing games. The room to the left, currently
our bookstore, was once part of the officers’ quarters.
These rooms hold several exhibits which introduce you to the fort’s history, design, and construction. The flags in the
first room represent the different nations the Castillo has served: Hapsburg and Bourbon Spain, Great Britain, and
the United States. Though the fort has changed hands between countries many times, every transfer was negotiated
through treaty and agreement, not battle. One of the major contributing factors to the Castillo’s success is coquina,
the stone from which the fortress is constructed. Because the stone is porous, it compresses under the impact of
cannon fire rather than shattering, making the Castillo practically indestructible.
In this room, you will notice some unusual features. The raised platform at the back is believed to be the original
mortar mixing pit used during the Castillo’s construction. Looking up towards the window, there is a ledge that marks
the original height of the Castillo’s walls: 22 feet at their initial completion in 1695.
The Castillo was originally built to act not only as a refuge for the townspeople but also as a military warehouse. The
Spanish used the western casemates for food storage, and they would have looked much like the locked supply
room. Other casemates were filled with military supplies such as gunpowder, hardware, ship repair materials, and as
many as 20,000 cannonballs.
All of the stone casemates were constructed between 1738 and 1756, a time of almost constant warfare between
Spain and England in the New World. The walls were raised to 35 feet during this remodeling, and t
page 2
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Volunteers-In-Parks Program
Castillo de San Marcos
Fort Matanzas
National Monuments
The Change of Flags
For 200 years the Spanish Empire ruled over a third of the world but growing wealth from the newly
‘discovered’ lands of Africa, Asia and the Americas spawned rivals to Spanish Power in Europe and
overseas. A series of conflicts erupted throughout the colonial era.
In 1763 the Seven Years War, the first great world war came to an end, known in North America as
the French and Indian War, it involved all the major powers of Europe: Prussia, Great Britain (with
British Colonies in North America), and Hanover were pitted against Austria, France (with New
France), Russia, Sweden, and Saxony. Spain and Portugal were later also drawn into the conflict. The
most tangible outcome of the war was the end of France’s power in the Americas and the emergence
of Great Britain as the most powerful colonial power in the world. More importantly, France's Navy
would never again be at near equal terms with the British Navy.
During the conflict (1754-1763) Britain captured Havana in Spanish Cuba and Manila in the
Philippines the two major trans-shipment points for the Spanish Treasure Fleets. Part of the Treaty of
Paris ending the war returned these cities to Spanish control in exchange for the territory of Florida
th
th
which became the British Crown colonies of East and West Florida (the 14 & 15 colonies in North
America).
For the Spanish floridanos it meant abandoning the only home they had ever known, one that many
of their great grandfathers had created from the wilderness. For the English it meant a new colony to
found and untold opportunities in land and trade and they flocked to St. Augustine changing the face
of the city forever.
On July 21, 1763 Spanish officials in St. Augustine transferred the territory to British forces under the
command of Captain John Hedges of the British Army. The Change of Flags event today recreates the
ceremonies that officially transferred Florida from Spanish to British control and celebrates this
important moment in history.
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A™
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
The Siege of 1702
November 9 - 30 December, 1702
The War of
Spanish
Succession
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Castillo de San Marcos National
Monument, St. Augustine, Florida
The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) was a major European conflict that spilled over into the
Americas. It arose at the end of the 17th century in anticipation of the death of the last Spanish Habsburg
king, Charles II. Mentally and physically infirm from a very young age, it was clear that Charles, though
twice married, could not produce an heir. Thus, the issue of the inheritance of the Spanish kingdoms
including not only Spain, but also dominions in Italy, the Low Countries, and the Americas became a
contentious political problem. When Charles died the empire that was held by Spain would pass through
the female side of this family to one of the other royal houses of Europe.
At issue was the balance of power in Europe. Divded into a complicated puzzle of states ruled by several
dominant dynastic families, all jealous of each other and vying for the wealth of the new worlds of Africa,
Asia and the Americas, Europe was almost constantly at or on the verge of war. There was a constant
forming and shifting of alliances and treaties aimed at keeping a tenuous equality betweenstates. Should any
one nation gain too much power, the other countries would be threatened.
The Claimants to
the Throne
There were three European royals who had substantial claims to the throne of Spain. The Bourbon King
Louis XIV of France, the son of the eldest daughter of King Phillip III of Spain, whose wife was the sister of
King Charles II of Spain, was considered the front runner. Leopold I, the Austrian Emperor, who was the
son of the youngest daughter of King Phillip III of Spain, and the husband of Charles II of Spain’s younger
sister was seen a close second. The final claimant to Spain’s throne was Joseph Ferdinand, the Electoral
Price of Bavaria, who was the grandson of Leopold I and the great-grandson of Phillip IV of Spain. While
there were a number of legal questions surrounding the claims to the throne of Spain, the ultimate concern
of every nation in Europe was a shift in power that would occur depending on who succeeded to the throne.
With this strategic question in mind, another power viewed this as a time for action.
On the other side of the English Channel, William III of England saw the potential joining of France with
Spain as a tremendous threat to England’s hopes in the New World as well as to the peace of Europe.
William began to make overtures to other powers in Europe to from an alliance against whatever the
outcome of the Spanish Succession might be. Ultimately, all the maneuvering by the claimants to the throne
was for nothing. After Charles II died, on November 1, 1700, his will set all claims to rest by designating
Phillip of Anjou, the grandson of Louis XIV of France, as his chosen heir to the throne of Spain and the
empire is its entirety. The war William had feared was inevitable.
World War
In March of 1702, William III of England died, leaving his dead wife’s sister, Anne, as the Queen of
England. In May, 1702, William III’s Grand Alliance, England, Austria, Brandenburg-Prussia, the
Netherlands, most of the German states, and Portugal with the leadership of Queen Anne and her
ministers, declared war on France and Spain. Their opening movement was an attack on the Spanish
Netherlands in what would be a head-long rush toward a war that would encompass the globe. When the
sides are considered, it is easy to see that there was no other path to be followed.
On first look, the Grand Alliance would seem quite the match for Spain and France, but this was only the
case in appearance. The majority of the alliance’s members were small nations with no true power unless
they banded together with larger nations. Spain had been a global imperial for two hundred years by the
start of the war, while France, under Louis XIV, had been moving toward becoming the dominant power
on the European continent. With Spain, France, and England all having colonial holdings overseas, it
would only be a matter of time before war broke out among the people in those colonies in the name of
their home countries and kings.
Carolina Declares
War
To any intelligent Englishman in North America, it must have seemed obvious where the primary threat to
Charles Towne, Carolina was. Only a week’s sail to the south, the strong Spanish fortress, of Castillo de
San Marcos, and the garrison at San Agustin were like a loaded gun aimed at the heart of the Carolina
Colony. Something needed to be done about San Agustin. In late August of 1702, on hearing of the
outbreak of Queen Anne’s War, the Carolina Commons started to entertain the idea of an attack against
the Spanish in La Florida.
By early September, the Commons approved the plan for an attack, proclaiming “the Encouragement to
free Plunder and a share of all Slaves,” and “all persons
Territorial Florida
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Second Seminole War, 1835-1842
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
St. Augustine, Florida
(
Southern Migration
Seminole Indians, c. 1870
The original native inhabitants of Florida had all but disappeared by 1700. European diseases and the losses from nearly
constant colonial warfare had reduced the population to a mere handful. Bands from various tribes in the southeastern
United States pressured by colonial expansion began moving into the unoccupied lands in Florida. These primarily Creek
tribes were called Cimarrones by the Spanish “strays” or “wanderers.” This is the probable origin of the name Seminole.
Runaway slaves or “Maroons” also began making their way into Florida where they were regularly granted freedom by
the Spanish. Many joined the Indian villages and integrated into the tribes.
Early Conflict
During the American Revolution the British, who controlled Florida from 1763 to 1784, recruited the Seminoles to raid
rebel frontier settlements in Georgia. Both sides engaged in a pattern of border raiding and incursion which continued
sporadically even after Florida returned to Spanish control after the war. Despite the formal treaties ending the war the
Seminoles remained enemies of the new United States.
Growing America
At the beginning of the 19th century the rapidly growing American population was pushing onto the frontiers in search
of new land. Many eyes turned southward to the Spanish borderlands of Florida and Texas. Several attempts at
“filibustering,” private or semi-official efforts to forcibly take territory, occurred along the frontiers. The Patriot War of
1812 was one such failed American effort aimed at taking East Florida. Hostilities continued during the War of 1812 as
the British encouraged the Creek tribes to attack Americans. Andrew Jackson became a national hero in these years,
defeating the Indians in the Creek War of 1813-1814, then the British at New Orleans in 1815 and finally leading an
invasion in 1818 into the West Florida territory to destroy the Seminole strongholds along the Suwannee River. This
became known as the First Seminole War. Despite the international repercussions arising from Jackson’s actions, the
United States eventually was able to purchase Florida from Spain in 1821 for five million dollars. Andrew Jackson was
appointed governor of the new territory.
Trails of Tears
Land pressure and Indian trouble continued. Though an 1823 treaty with the Seminoles reducing them to a reservation
in Central Florida was negotiated, the provisions of the treaty were only slowly implemented, and the Seminoles were
reluctant to move into the reservation area. As plantation agriculture grew in North Florida the runaway slave problem
continued to aggravate negotiations. In 1828 Andrew Jackson was elected President of the United States.
As a security measure and a way of easing land hunger the United States adopted a national policy of Indian removal,
essentially trading lands in the west acquired by the Louisiana Purchase for those held in the east by the tribes.
Originally a policy of encouragement and negotiation, with the passing of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 it became a
policy of reluctant and often forcible emigration for tens of thousands of American Indians to the West.
A new treaty was negotiated with some of the Seminole chiefs to remove them to the Creek reservations in Oklahoma.
This split the tribes with some agreeing to go west and others refusing to abide by any treaty agreements. Internal tribal
conflict, clashes with white settlers, and clandestine aid from Spain quickly sparked armed conflict.
The Second Seminole War
By December 1835 open warfare erupted. Osceola, a respected Seminole warrior along with some of his
followers killed Indian Agent Wiley Thompson at Fort King (near present day Ocala) 50 miles away in the area of
present day Bushnell, a column of 108 soldiers led by Brevet Major Francis Dade was ambushed and wiped out
almost to a man. A single surviving solder made it back to Fort Brooke, present day Tampa, to tell of the battle.
The Second Seminole War had begun.
The War lasted from 1835 until 1842. The Seminoles inaugurated a guerilla war raiding plantations along the
rivers and coasts, displaced much of the civilian population, and damaged the economy. The United States
countered with a massive military buildup of 10,000 regulars backed by 30,000 militia. Establishing a chain of
forts across the state to protect supply lines the Army sent expeditions against the Seminole villages, burning
houses, running off cattle and destroying crops. Threatened with starvation, the majority of Seminoles finally
gave in and fighting faded out by August of 1842. . Approximately 200 to 300 Seminoles were left hiding in the
Everglades - a nearly impenetrable swampy wasteland.
Aftermath
Prior to the Vietnam War, the Second Seminole War was the longest conflict that the US Mi
Florida in World War II
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Castillo de San Marcos National
Monument, St. Augustine, Florida
Soldiers go through morning calisthenics while wearing gas masks; Miami Beach, 1943
The Coming of War
With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 America entered into the conflict of World
War II. As the massive effort of converting the country to a wartime footing began, Florida became a vital
resource to the nation. The results of Florida’s involvement would change the state forever. Over the
course of four years Florida grew from a small, mostly rural and agricultural state into a massive industrial
and training area preparing men and materiel for the war. Instead of tourists Florida was soon filled with
recruits. Many of these servicemen and women would remember their time in the Sunshine State and
would return after the war was over, contributing to the State’s continuous growth.
Military Installations
in Florida
Florida's weather conditions, flat land and miles of accessible coastline made it ideal for the building of
military training bases, especially for aviation and amphibious landing operations.. By 1942 Florida had over
172 military installations, ranging from relatively small specialty camps to extremely large bases. Camp
Blanding near Starke became Florida's fourth largest city, growing to 180,000 acres and housing 55,000
soldiers at a time. There were forty airfields actively training military personnel throughout the state.
Likewise Naval Stations and Airfields lined the coast from Pensacola in the panhandle to the newly built
Mayport Naval Station near Jacksonville. Many of these sites are still active military installations today.
Others have been transformed and now form the core of Florida’s State Park system.
Economic Stimulus
for Florida
The war effort sent large amounts of money into Florida, which led to rebuilding and growth after the
devastation of the Great Depression. War contracts helped to rebuild Florida's manufacturing, agricultural,
and tourism businesses. Defense contracts boosted industry and revitalized Florida cities. Florida's nickname
almost changed from the Sunshine State to the Steel State. With the rebuilding of industry, jobs were
plentiful, but most men were off fighting in the war. Because of this, World War II provided an opportunity
for American women. It helped show that women could handle a man's job. In Florida, women worked in
shipyards, welding shops, and military bases. Women also helped run the agriculture industry, where one
fourth of all farm workers were women. They were able to take over jobs left behind by the men and keep
America stable. In addition to providing the necessary work force needed during the war, women bought
war bonds and volunteered as nurses, fire fighters, and even police officers. Florida's citrus industry also
thrived. In 1942 Florida became the top citrus producing state in the country surpassing California for the
first time. Also Florida citrus growers patented a new process to create frozen concentrated orange juice.
The cotton industry also increased its profits. In 1945, researchers in Orlando discovered an insecticide,
DDT, which became available for commercial use. The drawback was that the chemical's long-term effects
had not yet been tested, and it would later have a negative impact on Florida's wildlife and agricultural
industries. The war also changed the appearance of Florida cities with a surge in urban population. The
boom had begun.
The War Comes
to St. Augustine
Local youth were being shipped off to the dangerous corners of the world but until August of 1942 when
The U. S. Coast Guard took over several local hotels, the direct impact of war on St. Augustine had been
limited. The Ponce de Leon Hotel (now Flagler College) was converted into a Coast Guard boot camp,
where young men learned the art of war. At any given time, as many 2,500 guardsmen were stationed in
St. Augustine. Matanzas Bay was filled with zigzagging boats on maneuver. Even the famous protector of
early St. Augustine, the Castillo de San Marcos, played an important part in the Coast Guard's war time
role. “The vast grounds of the Fort area were in daily use by boot training companies and here thousands
learned close order drill with as many as eight companies deployed there on most days,"reported a local
newspaperman. Few then realized just how close the war would come to home.
Submarines off the
Florida Coast
The state's vulnerability became evident shortly after Pearl Harbor. In early 1942 German submarines
opened an offensive, code named Operation Drumbeat, against the virtually undefended Allied shipping
lanes along the east coast. Before the carnage was over, nearly 400 ships had been sunk, and thousands
of lives lost. Dozens of ships were torpedoed just off Florida's Atlantic coast and others in the Gulf of
Mexico. German submarine skippers used the light of coastal citie
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?
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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