Historic District in St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
It Begins
⎯⎯⎯
Ya comienza
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
1. It Begins / Ya comienza Marker
This marked the beginning of a 38-day siege in 1740. In the end, cannon fire partially damaged the eastern outer wall and the bombardment killed two townspeople.
Así comenzó el asedio de 38 días que sufrió la ciudad en 1740. Al final, los cañonazos dañaron parte de la muralla del este y el bombardeo cobró la vida de
this page online
Erected 2018 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 1740.
Location. 29° 53.891′ N, 81° 18.675′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. It is in the Historic District. It can be reached from the intersection of South Castillo Drive (State Road A1A) (Business U.S. 1) and Cuna Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located on the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument grounds, near the northeast corner of the fort, atop the San Carlos Bastion, overlooking the San Carlos Watchtower and Matanzas Bay. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 South Castillo Drive, Saint Augustine FL 32084, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in First Coast and in Greater Jacksonville. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Vigia de San Carlos (a few steps from this marker); St. Charles Bastion (a few steps from this marker); 1740 Siege (a few steps from this marker); Indian Prisoners (within shouting distance of this marker); Northern Defense Lines (within shouting distance of this marker); Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); Reading the Cannon / Claves de cañones
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
2. It Begins Marker (wide view; San Carlos Bastion, Watchtower, and Matanzas Bay in background)
More about this marker. Marker is a large rectangular composite plaque, mounted horizontally on waist-high metal posts.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Also see . . . The Siege of 1740. NPS Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Florida website entry:
In June of 1740, British Governor James Oglethorpe attempts to exploit the city’s weaknesses. The resulting siege lasted nearly a month. Oglethorpe successfully encircled and besieged St. Augustine, forcing the inhabitants inside the sheltering walls of the city while he bombarded the Castillo for nearly a month. But, as one Englishman observed, the native rock "will not splinter but will give way to cannon ball as though you would stick a knife into cheese..." Coquina, the stone from which the fort was built, actually absorbed the cannon balls fired at it. While the walls of the city defended the townspeople, the heavy guns of the Castillo de San Marcos and the long-range 9-pounders of the maneuverable Spanish galleys in the harbor held the enemy at
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
3. It Begins Marker (wide view looking north across the San Carlos Bastion; marker at left)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
4. San Carlos Watchtower (view northeast across San Carlos Bastion into Matanzas Bay)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
5. Vigía de San Carlos Marker (related marker located adjacent to the San Carlos Watchtower)
Signals were exchanged between this tower and a similar one across Matanzas Bay, on the ocean shore near the present lighthouse.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
6. Plaza de Armas, north side, Castillo de San Marcos (view downward from San Carlos Bastion)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 346 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on December 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1. submitted on December 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
