Crossing a dry moat, this drawbridge was the only way into the Castillo.
Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural intersections.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument will REOPEN to the public on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Fort Matanzas National Monument will REOPEN with Restrictions on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas National Monuments will be CLOSED starting Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in anticipation of severe weather and potential impacts from Tropical Storm Helene.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is planning a multimillion-dollar project to raise and rehabilitate the failing seawalls around the fort. The NPS is inviting public comment on this project from September 17 to October 15, 2024. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is is planning a multimillion-dollar project to raise and rehabilitate the failing seawalls around the fort. The NPS is inviting public comment on this project from June 17 to July 17, 2024. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.