St. Joe Beach in Gulf County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Fort Crèvecoeur

Fort Crèvecoeur Abandoned

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 29, 2008

1. Fort Crèvecoeur Marker, Front

Inscription. (Front): In 1717, on this site, the French began erecting Fort Crèvecoeur within Spanish domain. On February 8, 1718, Jean-Baptiste Lémoyne de Bienville, acting Governor of Louisiana, dispatched his brother, Lémoyne de Châteagué to complete this Fort. By May 12, the French occupied St. Joseph's Bay. Châteagué reported to Bienville completion, on the mainland, opposite St. Joseph Point, the stockaded Fort Crèvecoeur with four bastions and garrisoned. Simultaneously Jean Pedro Matamoros de Ysla, Governor of Spanish Florida, at Pensacola, indignantly protested this usurpation as St. Joseph's Bay belonged to Spain by earlier discovery and previous settlement.

(Rear): The French Colonial Council, with unanimous decision decided to burn Fort Crèvecoeur and abandon St. Joseph's Bay. On August 20, Spanish Captain, Joseph Primo De Rivera, reported to the Spanish Governorship, at St. Augustine, the French had retired from their invasion. Whereupon Rivera was ordered to command St. Joseph's Bay. By March 10, 1719, Don Gregorio de Salinas Varona had been transferred to the Spanish Governorship of St. Joseph's Bay.

Erected 1964 by Florida Board of Historic of Parks and Historic Memorials in Cooperation with the Gulf County Historical Commission. (Marker Number F-115.)

Topics. This

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historical marker is listed in this topic list: Colonial Era. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1865.

Location. 29° 54.786′ N, 85° 22.572′ W. Marker is in St. Joe Beach, Florida, in Gulf County. It is at the intersection of Columbus Street (U.S. 98) and Beacon Road, on the right when traveling east on Columbus Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mexico Beach FL 32410, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Vamar (approx. 4.2 miles away); Dr. Joseph P. Hendrix Memorial Park (approx. 8.2 miles away); Shipyard Cove (approx. 8.3 miles away); St. Joseph Catholic Mission Church (approx. 8½ miles away); The Florida Constitution (approx. 9.6 miles away); Old St. Joseph Cemetery (approx. 9.8 miles away); St. Joseph Cemetery Burial Register (approx. 9.8 miles away); Saint Joseph Cemetery (approx. 9.9 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Florida's First Railroad (was approx. 9½ miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Fort Crèvecoeur Marker, Reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 29, 2008

2. Fort Crèvecoeur Marker, Reverse

Fort Crèvecoeur Marker Pull Off image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 29, 2008

3. Fort Crèvecoeur Marker Pull Off

St. Joseph Bay image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 29, 2008

4. St. Joseph Bay

Looking from the marker location across the bay, in the distance is St. Joseph Point off St. Joseph Peninsula. The exact site of the fort is not detailed by the marker or other references, but stood generally on the mainland shore opposite the point, generally in the marker's location.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2017. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,711 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 6, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.