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The Spanish built the small fort of Fort Matanzas in 1742 when they ruled Florida. Fort Matanzas guarded Matanzas Inlet, effectively watching over St. Augustine’s southern river bank, while the much larger and stronger Castillo de San Marcos protected the north. The fort is a national monument today and serves as an exciting destination for exploring the early and violent history of Florida.
Visitors can explore fairly well preserved fort ramparts, officer’s quarters, gunpowder room, and its five original cannons. Fort Matanzas is part of a large 100-acres park, and a boardwalk provides a half-mile long path through the mangrove forest, offering a glimpse of a barrier island ecosystem, a live fort that today protects the coast from violent storms.
8635 A1A South, Saint Augustine, Florida, 904-471-0116
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