Castillo de San Marcos
The Story
Spain founded St. Augustine in 1565 — the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in what is now the United States — and built a series of wooden forts that kept burning down. Construction of the current coquina fort began in 1672, taking 23 years to complete. The British attacked it twice and failed both times, astonished that their cannonballs disappeared into the soft shell walls rather than cracking them. The fort changed hands between Spain, Britain, and the United States several times before becoming a national monument in 1924. It stands today exactly as it was built.
What Awaits You
Architecture: Spanish colonial star fort built from coquina — a unique shell-limestone that absorbed cannonballs rather than shattering, making the fort effectively impenetrable
Cultural significance: Oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, built by Spain to defend the oldest continuously occupied European city in North America
Landscape / setting: On the waterfront of Matanzas Bay in St. Augustine, Florida — the oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the USA
Unique feature: The coquina walls have never been breached in battle — British cannonballs fired in the 1702 siege are still embedded in the walls where they were absorbed
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