Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry structure in North America, with construction started in 1672. It seems that the Spanish and the British did not get along very well at the time. Spain had claimed Florida as theirs, but they considered “Florida” as extending up the coast into today’s Carolinas, and west to the Mississippi. The British “disagreed” and claimed all land down the coast to just north of Jacksonville. (the native civilizations who had lived there for centuries just shook their heads and wondered why no one asked them whose land it was.) This led to some conflict and this fort was built in response to protect St. Augustine.

As a way to tweak the British, the Spanish throne declared that all slaves in British colonies who could get to St. Augustine would be given their freedom provided they agreed to serve in the militia and converted to Catholicism. Even though this was certainly a good deal for those who could make it, Spain was hardly being altruistic in this act. It served to weaken the British, depriving them of free labor (or costing them more to guard it) and provided Spain with more bodies to help defend their lands. Support along the way for those escaping created that southern underground railroad I mentioned.

Many of those that came formed a nearby settlement at Fort Mose. See a separate post about my visit there.

In 1740, the British, fed up with Spain’s presence, send soldiers to attack and destroy St Augustine and the Castillo. Though they successfully seized the city and burned it, the citizens huddled inside the Castillo de San Marcos for 2 months until reinforcements drove the British away. See the Spanish response in my post about Fort Frederica.

History books may tell us that World War I was from 1914-to 1918. However, what is called the Seven Years War (French and Indian War in North America) was itself a world war. Armies from Great Britain, France, Spain, Prussia, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, lesser Germanic states, and numerous American Indian nations (on both sides) fought in battles in North and South America, across Europe, in Africa, and as far as the Philippines. Those allied with France lost, including Spain. As part of the peace treaty, Spain had to give Florida to Britain in 1763.

Twenty years later, Great Britain is signing the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolution. Spain had assisted the U.S. cause and as a “thanks”, the treaty included a clause giving Florida right back to Spain. It remained with Spain until 1819 when it had become a burden to that country and they negotiated a transfer to the United States. Castillo de San Marcos was briefly occupied by Confederate forces during the Civil War, and later held “prisoners” from the battles in the western U.S. with the original tribes living there.

After brief use during the 1898-99 Spanish-American war, the fort was no longer needed. In 1924, it was declared a National Monument.

It’s visits like this one that makes this National Parks adventure worthwhile. I expected to visit some old fort, look around the old stone walls, see old cannon sitting on the walls, and think “that’s nice, let’s move on”. Instead, I am given a history lesson never covered in schools. I learned a lot about the conflicts between Spain and Britain during the early 1700’s and the diverse culture that was St. Augustine and nearby Fort Mose. With six more forts as part of this trip, I expect to learn even more about the southeast U.S. during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. For a history buff like myself, I couldn’t ask for anything more!

Steve