Historic District in St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Guarding the Back Door / Vigilando dos entradas

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018

1. Guarding the Back Door / Vigilando dos entradas Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Guarding the Back Door (English) The Spanish built the Castillo de San Marcos along the winding, shallow channel of the Matanzas River. Any ships entering the inlet faced the fort head on, unable to deploy their guns broadside. The strategic location kept marauding pirates and attacking British warships at bay. During the 1740 British siege, ships from Cuba used the inlet at the southern end of Anastasia Island to resupply the town. After the siege, knowing enemies could also use the inlet, the Spanish built Fort Matanzas to protect St. Augustine's back door.

The shifting sands of barrier islands have changed the landscape since these forts were built.

Vigilando dos entradas (Spanish) Los españoles construyeron el Castillo de San Marcos a lo largo del cauce serpenteante del río Matanzas. Cualquier barco que se adentrara en el canal se encontraba con la proa frente al castillo, sin poder emplear los cañones en su costado. Esta ubicación estratégica mantenía a raya a los merodeadores piratas y los navíos británicos. Durante el asedio británico de 1740, los

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barcos provenientes de Cuba usaron la entrada del extremo sur de la isla Anastasia para reabastecer de provisiones a la ciudad. Tras el asedio, sabiendo que los enemigos también podrían usar este canal, los españoles construyeron el fuerte Matanzas para proteger la entrada trasera de San Agustín.

El continuo movimiento de las arenas del cordón litoral ha cambiado el panorama desde que se construyeron estas fortificaciones.

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 • Hispanic Americans • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 29° 53.855′ N, 81° 18.666′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. It is in the Historic District. Marker 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, on top of the fort's San Agustin Bastion, overlooking 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sentry Box (a few steps from this marker); Fortress Facelift / Nuevo dueño, obras nuevas

Marker detail: San Carlos Watchtower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By David L. Ellis

2. Marker detail: San Carlos Watchtower

Castillo de San Marcos secured Florida for Spain and protected St. Augustine from attack.

El Castillo de San Marcos garantizaba que Florida siguiera bajo dominio español y protegía a San Agustín de ataques.

(a few steps from this marker); St. Augustine's Bastion (a few steps from this marker); The Cross of Burgundy: Symbol of Spain (a few steps from this marker); Pirate Attacks (a few steps from this marker); Firing Steps (within shouting distance of this marker); Multi-Use Moat / ¿Un foso sin agua? (within shouting distance of this marker); Matanzas Bay (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.

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 British Threat. By 1740, it was no longer the French, but rather the British who were a threat to the Spanish Florida colony. Whoever controlled Florida controlled the rich shipping lanes coming from the Spanish Caribbean. The British had unsuccessfully laid siege to St. Augustine twice (1702 and 1740). Florida Governor Montiano

Marker detail: Fort Matanzas image. Click for full size.

Photographed By David L. Ellis

3. Marker detail: Fort Matanzas

Fort Matanzas protected the southern approach to St. Augustine.

Fort Matanzas protegía a San Agustín de ataques por el sur.

knew the British would be back and would most likely attempt to come through the unguarded inlet at Matanzas. So, he immediately ordered a fort to be built to guard these southern approaches - Fort Matanzas. (Submitted on December 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Guarding Back Door Marker (<i>wide view from San Agustín Bastion; Matanzas Bay in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018

4. Guarding Back Door Marker (wide view from San Agustín Bastion; Matanzas Bay in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 186 times since then and 8 times this year. Last updated on December 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.