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

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

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. Marker 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 18 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Vamar (approx. 4.2 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); Wewahitchka Centennial (approx. 17.6 miles away).

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 2,844 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 6, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.