The National Park System, of which Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and enjoyment of its people.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Stewart L. Udall, Secretary

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Conrad L. Wirth, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents,
U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington 25. D.C. Price 20 cents

THE BUILDING OF
Castillo de
San Marcos

by
ALBERT C. MANUCY
Historian
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

National Park Service Interpretive Series
History No. 1

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON

CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS, OLDEST EXISTING MASONRY FORT IN THE UNITED STATES, IS A TYPICAL EUROPEAN FORTIFICATION OF THE LATE 1600’S. IT OVERLOOKS THE ENTRANCE TO ST. AUGUSTINE HARBOR, AND FROM ITS WATCHTOWER THE SENTRIES LOOKED OUT OVER THE MIGHTY ATLANTIC TOWARD THE TREASURE FLEETS ON THEIR WAY TO SPAIN.

Contents

Page [FLORIDA AND THE PIRATES] 1 [BEGINNING THE CASTILLO] 8 [THE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION] 15 [DEFENDING SAN MARCOS] 26 [THE END OF AN ERA] 31 [GLOSSARY] 34

The Building of
Castillo de San Marcos