No trip to St. Augustine is complete without touring one of the most visited historic sites in the city. The Castillo de San Marcos is located right on the Matanzas Bay and constructed in 1672, making it the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S.
Built by the Spanish Empire, it transferred into the hands of the British after they gained control of Florida in 1763. Just twenty years later, control switched back to Spain and the fort once more was under Spanish control.
In 1819, Spain signed the treaty which ceded Florida to the United States and from that time the fort became a United States Army base, renamed Fort Marion. An Act of Congress restored the fort back to its original name in 1942 to preserve the history and significance of it. It was deactivated for military use in the 1930's. Virtually Explore the Castillo de San Marcos here.
It was an awesome experience. We watched the alligator feeding and learned a lot. This park was well worth the price and gave us a new respect for these amazing reptiles!!!
Castillo de San Marcos is an outstanding experience
Used our National Parks pass to visit at no charge. Well worth the cost if you do not have a pass. It was much larger inside than it appears from the outside. There are many rooms with historical information that are very interesting and educational.
So much to see!
Very much enjoyed the Alligator Farm. Wonderful to see all the different types of alligators and crocodiles. In addition to these, they had so much more to see such as birds, turtles, lemurs, and more.
Love the wild birds!
Amazing place, especially for photographers! The kids seemed to be having a great time watching the Gators, but the wild birds nesting above them are truly a spectacle. Thanks so much to the friendly staff.
Amazing
I was amazed at all the alligators, crocodiles, exotic birds & animals. You could easily spend several hours here. They also have a nice snack bar with free pop refills & lots of items for lunch. We bought several cute items at the gift shop also.
Friendly Staff!
Park is very clean with easy viewing of the animals. The staff is very friendly and informative. You can also get some interesting views by taking the zip line/obstacle course.
