by This page is dedicated to Florida historical markers near St. Augustine St. Augustine’s Bastion. There are many historical markers in Florida. This marker in St. Johns County is an excellent example.
St. Augustine’s Bastion
This Florida Historical Marker is entitled St. Augustine’s Bastion Baluarte de San Agustin and is located in St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida. When traveling north, the marker can be reached from South Castillo Drive (State Road A1A) on the right.
Inscription on the Marker
The inscription reads:
St. Augustine’s Bastion. Baluarte de San Agustin. This bastion was named after the patron saint of the city. St. Augustine was established in 1565, 42 years before the English settled Jamestown – 55 years before the Pilgrims stepped onto Plymouth Rock. It grew from 800 people in 1565 to 3,000 in 1763, the end of the first Spanish occupation.
Details and Background of the St. Augustine’s Bastion
The historical marker “St. Augustine’s Bastion” refers to the Baluarte de San Agustin, one of the bastions of Castillo de San Marcos, located in St. Augustine, Florida. The marker highlights the historical significance of the bastion and its connection to the city’s patron saint, St. Augustine.
The inscription emphasizes the age and importance of St. Augustine, as it was founded in 1565, making it the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement within the continental United States. The city was established by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and predates other well-known English settlements like Jamestown and Plymouth Rock.
Throughout the years, the population of St. Augustine grew, and the city faced various challenges, including attacks by pirates and rival European powers. As a result, the Spanish decided to construct the Castillo de San Marcos to protect the city and its inhabitants. The Baluarte de San Agustin, as part of this fortress, played an essential role in defending the city during the first Spanish occupation, which ended in 1763 when Florida was ceded to the British after the Seven Years’ War.
The historical marker serves as a reminder of the rich history of St. Augustine, the city’s connection to its patron saint, and the critical role the bastion and the Castillo de San Marcos played in protecting the city during its early years.
Maps & Location Views
Using mapping services from Google, we can show detailed location maps and street views if they are available.
Sometimes you will be able to see the St. Augustine’s Bastion Marker in Google Maps. A 360-degree view of the area near the marker is available on the link below. You can see the marker or monument and read it in many cases.
History of Castillo de San Marco
The Castillo de San Marcos is a Spanish-built fortification in St. Augustine, Florida. It was constructed between 1672 and 1695, making it the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. The fort was designed using a star-shaped layout, including four diamond-shaped bastions named after a saint.
These bastions are:
- Bastion of San Pedro: Located at the fort’s southeast corner.
- Bastion of San Agustín: Situated at the southwest corner.
- Bastion of San Carlos: Positioned at the northwest corner.
- Bastion of San Pablo: Found at the northeast corner.
The bastions were designed to provide overlapping fields of fire, which allowed defenders to protect one another and the fort as a whole. This design was crucial to the fort’s resilience against attacks, as it allowed the Spanish to hold off both pirates and other European powers, including the British.
The Castillo de San Marcos has served under various flags over the centuries, including the Spanish, British, and American flags. It has also changed names a few times, including Fort St. Mark (under British rule) and Fort Marion (under U.S. control). Today, the fort is managed by the National Park Service as the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, and it remains a popular tourist attraction, offering insight into the colonial history of Florida and the United States.
About the Florida Historical Marker Program
One of the most well-known and noticeable public history initiatives of the Division of Historical Resources is the Florida Historical Marker Program. It is intended to increase residents’ and visitors’ enjoyment of Florida’s historic places and to increase public knowledge of the state’s rich cultural past.
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