On December 16th we visited Fort Matanzas. Fort Matanzas is located on Rattlesnake Island and guards the Matanzas Inlet the southern mouth of the Matanzas River. It was constructed in 1740 – 42 and was built to protect St. Augustine from the rear. Matanzas is Spanish for slaughter but there was no death and no bloodshed at the Fort. In 1742 soldiers at Fort Matanzas stopped British attempts to gain control of the inlet; the fort never again fired its guns for battle.
Fort Matanzas – 50 feet on each side with a 30 foot tower – was built of coquina, a local shellstone. Lime for the mortar was made by burning oyster shells. The fort could cover the inlet with five cannons.
There is no admission fee for Fort Matanzas National Monument as well as the short ferry ride to the fort.
Yes I did visit Castillo De San Marcos. Then I lost all of the pictures I took of it. This is the first time I ever did anything so stupid with my pictures. Mom and I will just have to come back to Florida. Yep we are coming back.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 | I climb through this to get to the top. |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |
3 comments:
And from Ft. M, I am only a short way south. Where are you headed now?
Sherry T.
What a tiny fort! And it looks like something medieval. Of course, it's 270 years old, which is a lot closer to medieval times than we are today. Thanks for sharing this neat little part of American history.
It looks tiny... but fascinating.
Post a Comment