Castillo de San Marcos, St Augustine, Florida "America's Oldest City" ca.1513

We traveled to St Augustine on a whim to finish the initial part of the Elsaesser Fellowship Project.

Though St Augustine is on the Atlantic coast and well away from the historic fortifications of the Gulf, it felt like a shame to leave out the oldest city and fortification complex in the country. 

St Augustine was originally discovered and setteled by the Spanish Explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513.  Founded as a Spanish City in 1565 and fully fortified by 1627.


The original Spanish brick and masonry fortification is cited as being important in the design of the much later American fortifications built as part of the second and third system coastal defense networks.



The Spanish troop garrisoned at the Castillo de San Marcos later brought their families and established the city outside the walls of the fort in 1565.


Construction plan of the Castillo de San Marcos from 1677

Military engineer in the Spanish Army 1677 - http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/source/sb3/images/sb3f.jpg

National Park Service brochure showing an exploded view drawing of fort.






































  









   

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