#fort matanzas national monument

[sabistarphotos]

February 8, 2023

Fort Matanzas, Florida

[mutant-distraction]

Kyle Flucht

Fort Matanzas National Monument

(Spanish: Fuerte Matanzas),

1740 Spanish fort called Fort Matanzas,

with some water in the moat

[usgsbiml]

A lovely male Perdita halictoides from Fort Matanzas National Monument along the Atlantic Coast of Florida.  Something so tiny that most would not call it a bee, but so very well designed in its geometries and colors.  Picture by Sierra Williams, shopping by Elizabeth Garcia.  

[itsmejustkeep]

A trunk from the 1930s mysteriously washed ashore on a Florida beach. The chest was labeled "NEVERBREAK."

[gracesphotographs]

Fort Matanzas National Monument, Florida, April 2014

[flipfactoryzone]

5 Things to Do in North Florida

While most of the famous places in the world are known for one or two major attractions, North Florida is known for having a long list of tourist attractions. From natural scenic spots and historical sites to theme parks and shopping malls, a wide range of places are situated in this amazing region.

Therefore, you can find plenty of things to do in North Florida. Whether you want to feel peace in the beauty of nature or quench your thirst for adventure, you can easily find a suitable place for the same. Every area located in North Florida, which is a region in the U.S. state of Florida, has unique landmarks. Hence, irrespective of the area that you choose for spending your holidays, you will enjoy your time.

In this blog, we have mentioned the top 5 places that you must visit while you are in North Florida for vacation or business purposes.

 Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens

The Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens is a perfect combination of nature and history. Located in Jacksonville city, the most populous city of Florida, this museum is the largest fine arts museum in Northeast Florida. Established in the year 1958, the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens has a vast collection with more than 5000 objects. You can sit and relax in the lush gardens or witness the splendid art collection in the museum.

 Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park

Located in the Gainesville city of North Florida, Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park captures the attention of several geological experts every year. Spread across a large area of 71 acres, this state park has a rainforest, observation deck, and a limestone sinkhole. The width and depth of this 10000-year-old sinkhole are 500 and 120 feet respectively. Fossils of many animals were found in the limestone sinkhole, thereby facilitating the research work conducted by experts.

 Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument occupies a place of importance in the history and culture of North Florida. Located near the far northeastern corner of Florida, this monument is the oldest and largest masonry fort in the continental United States. You need to travel for 90 minutes from the Georgia state line border to reach Matanzas Bay on whose western shore this monument was built more than 320 years ago. Castillo de San Marcos was constructed by the Spanish emperors.

 The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

As the name suggests, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is situated in the Jacksonville city of Florida. The exact location of this tourist destination is the mouth of the Trout River. Having more than 2000 species of animals and 1000 species of rare plants, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is spread across an area of 120 acres. The newly built one-way walking path has become one of the highlights of this place. Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast or a nature lover, you will like this zoo and botanical garden.

 Henderson Beach State Park

Another wonderful state park in the state of Florida, Henderson Beach State Park is a marvelous place to spend your time. From fishing to a wedding, you can carry out a variety of activities over there. You can even take a sunbath, walk along the trails, enjoy a leisurely picnic with friends, or splash in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The sand dunes, which resemble the white color of the snow stretch across 30 feet. Henderson Beach State Park also has campsites.

 The National Naval Aviation Museum

Ending the list with a museum just like we started the list, we have included here some brief information about this last place on our list.

For  more information about : kids air hockey gainesville

 The National Naval Aviation Museum is a military and aerospace museum. Located at Naval Air Station in the Pensacola city of Florida, this museum was established in the year 1962. The National Naval Aviation Museum houses more than 150 aircraft and spacecraft that visitors can see. It also has a café, museum store, and Giant Screen Theatre.

Final Words

If you land in North Florida frequently, you can check the above list and visit the places that you haven’t been to yet. We hope you liked this article.

[seeselfblack]

The Castillo de San Marcos, a brief story 

*The Castillo de San Marcos began construction on this date in 1672.  

Built with Black African slave and Native American labor, it is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.  Still standing, it is located on the western shore of Matanzas Bay in the city of St. Augustine, Florida.  The city of St. Augustine was founded for the Spanish Crown in 1565 on the site of a former Native American village called Seloy.

The need for fortifications was recognized after it was attacked by Sir Francis Drake and his fleet of 22 ships in 1586, and over the next 80 years, a succession of nine wooden forts were built in various locations along the coastline. However, after a 1668 attack by the English pirate Robert Searle during which the town of St. Augustine was burned to the ground, wooden forts were deemed inadequate, and Mariana, Queen Regent of Spain, approved the construction of a masonry fortification to protect the city.  The Castillo is a masonry star fort made of a stone which consists of ancient shells that have bonded together to form a sedimentary rock similar to limestone.

The Castillo was designed by the Spanish engineer Ignacio Daza, with construction beginning 107 years after the city's founding by Spanish Admiral and conquistador Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire.  Native Americans, African slaves brought in from Havana, Cuba did most of the labor.  Construction lasted twenty-three years, with completion in 1695.   When Britain gained control of Florida in 1763 pursuant to the Treaty of Paris, St. Augustine became the capital of British East Florida, and the fort was renamed Fort St. Markuntil the Peace of Paris (1783) when Florida was transferred back to Spain and the fort's original name restored. In 1819, Spain signed the Adams Onís Treaty which ceded Florida to the United States in 1821; consequently, the fort was designated a United States Army base and renamed Fort Marion.  

Under United States control the fort was used as a military prison to incarcerate members of Native American tribes starting with the Seminole including the war chief, Osceola, in the Second Seminole War and members of western tribes, including Geronimo's band of Chiricahua Apache. The Native American art form known as Ledger Art had its origins at the fort during the imprisonment of members of the Plains tribes such as Howling Wolf of the southern Cheyenne.   The fort was declared a National Monument in 1924, and after 251 years of continuous military possession, was deactivated in 1933. The 20.48-acre site was subsequently turned over to the United States National Park Service.

In 1942 the original name, Castillo de San Marcos, was restored by an Act of Congress. Castillo de San Marcos was attacked several times and twice besieged.  However, possession of the fort has changed six times, all peaceful, among four different governments. ��Since the transfer to the National Park Service in 1933, and it has been a popular tourist destination since then.

[nationalparkpatchlady]

It’s #ThinkSmallPark week over on @hellorangerusa with @nationalparkgeek! Those of you who know me, know I LOVE smaller parks! ⠀ The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. Located on the western shore of Matanzas Bay in the city of St. Augustine, Florida, the fort was designed by the Spanish engineer Ignacio Daza. Construction began in 1672, 107 years after the city's founding by Spanish Admiral and conquistador Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire. The fort's construction was ordered by Governor Francisco de la Guerra y de la Vega after the destructive raid by the English privateer Robert Searles in 1668. Work proceeded under the administration of Guerra's successor, Manuel de Cendoya in 1671, and the first coquina stones were laid in 1672. The construction of the core of the current fortress was completed in 1695, though it would undergo many alterations and renovations over the centuries. [wikipedia]⠀ ⠀ 📍: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument⠀ 📅 : January 2017⠀ ⠀ #nationalparkgeek #IBrakeForBrownSigns #getolympus #findyourambassador #unitedbynature (at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn9y-VMA88_/?igshid=1e35ikojik51v

[rachel-blue]

Fort Matanzas National Monument. Florida.

[analoginstants]

Look out, world.

[ohkathleeenn]

Took the ferry to the tour of Fort Matanzas National Monument⛴

[psychickidhoundbandit-blog]

Fort Matanza (at Fort Matanzas National Monument) https://www.instagram.com/p/BywK5cIhTYG/?igshid=we21037wfbdn

[usgsbiml]

A nest parasite, perhaps of Agapostemon splendens, this uncommon  sand specialist is a good indicator of habitat worth retaining.  

Collected along the Atlantic Coast at:  Fort Matanzas National Monument.

All original pictures completely public domain and available at our Flickr site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usgsbiml/

Photography Information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY

Follow us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/usgsbiml/

Download our free field guide to the genera of bees:http://bio2.elmira.edu/fieldbio/beesofmarylandbookversion1.pdf

Public Bee Servant, sam droege

[jaspasjourney]

Fort Matanzas National Monument: built by the Spanish in 1742 in the middle of the Matanzas river, near St. Augustine in what is now Florida - May 2010. . #JaspasJourney #thejourneycontinues #enjoythejourney #JoinTheAdventure #dreamtodayjourneytomorrow #fortmatanzas (at Fort Matanzas National Monument) https://www.instagram.com/p/COvngAgr_Pr/?igshid=14gl3t1at95jq

[mattjylha]

This World Photography Day 2020 I wanted to share some images from a recent trip to Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine Florida. The fort is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States; it is located on the western shore of Matanzas Bay. #worldphotographyday #staugustine #nationalmonuments #castillodesanmarcos (at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEFpuFiDuHa/?igshid=5j5i9kyblfrk

[nationalparkpatchlady]

⠀ The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. Located on the western shore of Matanzas Bay in the city of St. Augustine, Florida, the fort was designed by the Spanish engineer Ignacio Daza. Construction began in 1672, 107 years after the city's founding by Spanish Admiral and conquistador Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire. The fort's construction was ordered by Governor Francisco de la Guerra y de la Vega after the destructive raid by the English privateer Robert Searles in 1668. Work proceeded under the administration of Guerra's successor, Manuel de Cendoya in 1671, and the first coquina stones were laid in 1672. The construction of the core of the current fortress was completed in 1695, though it would undergo many alterations and renovations over the centuries. [wikipedia]⠀ ⠀ 📍: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument⠀ 📅 : January 2017⠀ ⠀ #nationalparkgeek #IBrakeForBrownSigns (at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn9y-VMA88_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=klykymupzwob