Explore Fort Matanzas National Monument

Did you enjoy spending time at Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine? If so, or even if you haven't had a chance to visit "the big fort", you might want to make it a point to go 15 miles south on highway A1A and explore "the little fort" - Fort Matanzas National Monument. Here you get history up close and personal, along with a free park service boat ride, nature walks and tour guide in period costumes.

One of the things you'll find as you continue reading this page and when you visit St. Augustine for yourself, is the history of this area is inter-twined between Spanish, French, British, American Indians and the United States. It's a basket weave of good and not so good, with each nationality playing both parts. It is what defines the character of St. Augustine and it is beautiful preserved in its buildings and monuments.

First, a little history The Spanish constructed Fort Matanzas in 1740 to control the Matanzas Inlet, a "backdoor" to St. Augustine. The fort was in response to British attempting a siege on the city. The fort received its name from the surrounding waters and those in turn, from events that happened here.

Matanzas is a Spanish word for "slaughters", which is what happened when 250 French Huguenots surrendered to the Spanish General Pedro Menéndez de Aviles at the inlet. In the more recent 268 years, the fort hasn't seen action and no American troops were ever stationed at the fort. Thankfully the old days are over and today American, Spanish, French and British all live quite comfortably in St. Augustine.

At the time the fort was built, it sat on only 2 acres of dry land. Since then, Rattlesnake Island (what the land is now called) has grown to over 200 acres due to shifting sands and currents. The fort itself is constructed of the same coquina shells as Castillo de San Marcos and many other historic St. Augustine buildings.

The Tour Exploring Fort Matanzas involves a quick -free- boat ride from the visitor center to Rattlesnake Island. The boat leaves every hour on the half-hour (9:30am, 10:30am, etc). The tour on the island lasts about 45 minutes. On our trip we had an excellent historical interpreter in full period "Spanish soldier" costume that shared what it was like living at Fort Matanzas in the 1700s. Just image spending a month here, without electricity and hot water. After the official tour you can explore the fort on your own. Be sure to climb up the ladder to the top deck. It's like playing Santa Claus in a chimney, but in reverse!

Address and Directions Fort Matanzas Nat. Monument 8635 A1A South St. Augustine, Florida 32080 904.471.0116 From downtown St. Augustine, cross the Bridge of Lions to Anastasia Island. Go south for 15 miles on highway A1A. Fort Matanzas is open every day of the year except December 25. Hours are 9am to 5:30 pm.

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Find out more about Fort Matanzas National Monument

Fort Matanzas - National Park Service

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