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

Castillo de San Marcos

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018

1. Castillo de San Marcos Marker

Inscription. Castillo de San Marcos (English) Explore the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. For hundreds of years Castillo de San Marcos has watched over St. Augustine. From the upper gun deck, see how this massive fort guarded the harbor entrance to protect St. Augustine.

Castillo de San Marcos (Spanish) Explore la fortaleza de mampostería más antigua de los Estados Unidos continentales. Durante cientos de años, el Castillo de San Marcos protegió San Agustín. Suba al terraplén y observe cómo esta inmensa fortificación vigilaba la entrada del puerto.

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 • Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 29° 53.79′ N, 81° 18.676′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. It is in the Historic District. Marker is at the intersection of South Castillo Drive (Business U.S. 1) and Cuna Street, on the right when traveling north on South Castillo Drive. Marker is located at the entrance to the Castillo de San Marcos

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National Monument, beside the walkway, on the right as you enter from the parking lot from the south. 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. A different marker also named Castillo de San Marcos (within shouting distance of this marker); Saving the Seawall / Salvando el malecón (within shouting distance of this marker); Spanish Stronghold / Ciudadela española (within shouting distance of this marker); Covered Way (within shouting distance of this marker); Crumbling Coquina / Piedra frágil (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Marion (about 300 feet away); Weapons of War / Artillería (about 300 feet away); Under Continuous Attack / Bajo ataques continuos (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.

More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted at eye-level on tall 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 . . . Castillo de San Marcos. The Castillo de San Marcos is unique in North American architecture. As the only extant 17th century military construction in the country and the oldest masonry fortress in the United

Marker detail: Castillo de San Marcos image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018

2. Marker detail: Castillo de San Marcos

States it is a prime example of the "bastion system" of fortification, the culmination of hundreds of years of military defense engineering. It is also unique for the material used in its construction. The Castillo is one of only two fortifications in the world built out of a semi-rare form of limestone called coquina (The other is Fort Matanzas National Monument 14 miles south). The fortress itself is both a product of and evidence to the multitude of forces both political and technological that created the competition for empire during the colonial era. But above all the Castillo is an enduring legacy of the craftsmanship and skill of the engineers, artisans and laborers who built it. (Submitted on December 21, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Castillo de San Marcos Marker (<i>wide view; Castillo de San Marcos entrance in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018

3. Castillo de San Marcos Marker (wide view; Castillo de San Marcos entrance in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 21, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 330 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on December 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 21, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.