St. Johns Bluff in Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Building of la Caroline
Fort Caroline National Monument
— Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve —
Jacques le Moyne, 1564 la Caroline colonist and artist
Measuring a piece of ground in the shape of a triangle, the colonists laid out their fort and settlement. Using shovels, cutting hooks, and hatchets, they cleared the site of trees. The fort and storage barns were erected quickly, with other buildings soon to follow.
The first guardhouse, built in the center of the fort, stood too high and was blown over by fierce winds. Baking ovens were placed outside the fort to keep fire away from the fort's powder magazine. Once the common buildings were completed, the colonists set to work building their homes.
The original site and exact placement of the colony and fort are still a mystery to historians. In 1964, 400 years after the establishment of la Caroline, the fort you see before you was built by the National Park Service. It is not a reconstruction of the original, it is based on educated guesswork and serves only to bring the fort story alive.
Erected by National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1564.
Location. 30° 23.189′ N, 81° 29.99′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Florida, in Duval County. It is in St. Johns Bluff. Marker can be reached from Ft. Caroline Road, on the left when traveling east. Located on the tour trail from the visitor center in Fort Caroline National Monument. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jacksonville FL 32225, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort de la Caroline (within shouting distance of this marker); Timucuan Friends (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The River of May (about 700 feet away); Spanish Pond (approx. 0.3 miles away); Staking a Claim (approx. 0.6 miles away); Ribault Monument (approx. 0.6 miles away); New France (approx. 0.6 miles away); Timucuan Preserve (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.
Also see . . . Fort Caroline History. (Submitted on August 27, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 738 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 27, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.