Fort Caroline National Memorial 12713 Fort Caroline Road Jacksonville, FL 32225.
The establishment of a French colony here in 1564 directly challenged the Spaniards, who responded by establishing Saint Augustine the next year. After securing a firm base of operations, the Spaniards led by Pedro Menéndez marched to the French settlement and captured it, ending French interest in the area.
Fort Matanzas National Monument c/o Castillo de San Marcos National Monument 1 Castillo Drive Saint Augustine, FL 32084.
On this site Spanish troops killed French soldiers who were part of the ill-fated attempt to establish a French settlement in Florida. In 1740, after the failed English attack on Saint Augustine, the Spaniards built a masonry fortification—Fort Matanzas—on Rattlesnake Island overlooking Matanzas Inlet to control the inlet permanently.
Gulf Islands National Seashore 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway Gulf Breeze, FL 32561.
The ravelin of Fort Barrancas, located on the grounds of the Pensacola Naval Air Station, is another Spanish masonry fortification in Florida besides the Castillo and Fort Matanzas. It is called Battery San Antonio and dates from 1797. It was planned as part of a larger fortification never built by the Spaniards. Fort Barrancas, built by the U.S., dates from the early 19th century.
Besides these parks in Florida there is one in Georgia (not shown on the [map]) that bears importantly on the story of St. Augustine.
Fort Frederica National Monument Route 9, Box 286-C Savannah, GA 31410.
It was at Fort Frederica that James Edward Oglethorpe established a settlement in 1736 only a few days march north of St. Augustine in territory that the Spaniards clearly believed to be their own.
