Fort Matanzas St Augustine - St Augustine Attractions

Fort Matanzas St. Augustine

St Augustine, settled first by the Spanish, owes a great deal of its success as the first prosperous European city and colony in the New World to its uncanny ability to protect itself from outsiders and attacks from other European countries. Located right on the Matanzas River overlooking the vast Atlantic, St Augustine was a vulnerable settlement, as there two different ways to enter the city, and it needed to be protected, of course, on all sides. The Castillo de San Marcos served as the city's main fort and main line of defense, and little thought was given to defending the other, smaller entrance to the city, which was located on the Matanzas River, until the year 1740. What happened in 1740? St Augustine was attacked by British General James Oglethorpe, who led a terrible 39 day siege on the city. While the city of St Augustine recovered and the Spanish settlement continued to grow and thrive, it was this monumental attack by the British that prompted the monarchy in Spain to devote resources to building another defense line for the city's other entrance. They set out to construct Fort Matanzas on the Matanzas Inlet, and today, it remains a famous St Augustine Fort and St Augustine Attraction.

After seeing the great need for a new Fort in St Augustine on the inlet, the Spanish settlers began construction on Fort Matanzas St Augustine. Constructed of hard, native coquina rock, Fort Matanzas is situated on the banks of Rattlesnake Island, an island located in the salt marsh along the Matanzas Inlet. Fort Matanzas St Augustine measures 50 feet long and it has a massive, 30 foot tower located on one side. Convicts and Cuban slaves were used as laborers during the construction of Fort Matanzas St Augustine, which was heavily armed and equipped with cannons, including 4 six-pound cannons and one enormous 18 pound cannon. Just prior to the completion of Fort Matanzas St Augustine's construction in 1742, troops were able to test out the fort's ability to defend the city when Oglethorpe and his British naval forces returned to the Matanzas Inlet for another skirmish. This time, Oglethorpe brought with him 12 armed ships. Immediately upon seeing the small sea vessels and large warships, troops began to fire their cannons. This must have signaled to the British that St Augustine was now heavily armed and ready, since the warships stopped and turned around, leaving the inlet without ever having fired on their enemy. This very small incident was the only incident in which Fort Matanzas engaged an enemy.

Fort Matanzas St Augustine survived both the First Treaty of Paris and the Second Treaty of Paris, and sat for some time in a deteriorated state, almost in ruin. As the Spanish Empire declined, it did not have the resources or monies to keep up with the expenses and overhauls that this Fort in St Augustine required. Thus, when the United States took control of Florida in 1819, American troops found this Fort in St Augustine needing a great deal of restoration. Almost a century later, in 1916, Fort Matanzas St Augustine got just that, and restorative work began on this infamous Fort in St Augustine; in 1924 it was proclaimed a National Monument. A few years later the United States military ended this Fort in St Augustine's duty as a protective fort and transferred the fort itself and 100 acres of surrounding salt marsh and barrier islands on the Matanzas River to the National Park Service, making it a wonderful historical St Augustine spot to tour. Today, Fort Matanzas St Augustine remains preserved and is one of the neatest St Augustine Attractions open for tour.

Visit Fort Matanzas St Augustine while on St Augustine Tours on the inlet. The fort itself is only accessible by a guided ferry, and once you are on Rattlesnake Island, you can explore the fort and its visitors center, as well as enjoy the numerous St Augustine Hiking trails and pathways that follow throughout the Fort Matanzas Park. Also, Fort Matanzas St Augustine is a wonderful place to try your hand at St Augustine Fishing.

Interested in great Places to Stay St Augustine? Our St Augustine Bed Breakfast Inns are some of the most charming St Augustine Bed and Breakfasts in the Old City. Many of them are the renowned Bayfront St Augustine Hotels that are located just a few steps away from the gorgeous Matanzas Bay. Plan to stay in one of the adorable St Augustine Historic Houses that have been converted into refined St Augustine Bed and Breakfasts that are decorated with luxurious period decor. Our St Augustine Bed Breakfast Inns are award winning and ready to help you plan your next trip!