National Monuments - Florida

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

10/30/1993 Walked around Castillo De San Marcos - Spanish fort from the 1600s.

Me out front ...

.. and with a cannon

Maureen in the fort

3/20/2022 Driving a short distance back closer to the historic center we stopped at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. This started out as a challenge - with insufficient parking Ken was going to circle while I made a pit stop, then I would circle while he visited (I was here before). Just as I found out I needed tickets to get in, Ken found a spot and we both got our tickets to enter. Spanish for "St. Mark's Castle", with construction beginning in 1672, this is the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S. We spent a little time here walking around, enjoying the fort, the day, and the views.

The walls outside ...

... with Ken

Walls inside

Interesting little watch tower

Looking in to the moat ...

... and Hotel Ponce de Leon

A cool angle shot ...

... and 360 degree

A cannon ...

... and closeup

Ken and me

Fort Matanzas National Monument

11/10/2001 Continued down A1A to Fort Matanzas NM. After seeing a short film on the Spanish fort, took a quick boat ride across the inlet to the small fort. Short guided tour and walked around, back to visitor center.

The park sign and fort in the distance

Nearing the fort

Some of the protection

A close-up of the construction

Me on the fort