Continuing our look at the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida, this is another view of the Castillo de San Marcos.
The oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, the Castillo houses an outstanding collection of colonial era artillery. As its name implies, the Castillo is a true castle. It was built to house the entire population of St. Augustine in the event of attack.
When English forces attacked the city in 1702, more than 1,500 citizens of the city moved into the Castillo and remained there for over 50 days. Although the city was sacked and burned, the fort held and the population of St. Augustine remained safe.
Construction on the Castillo was begun in 1672 and it was strengthened and remodeled several times during the 1700s. It remains a magnificent example of colonial architecture.
Our series on St. Augustine will continue. Until the next post, you can read more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com and looking for the St. Augustine heading.
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