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Castillo De San Marcos National Monument

St. Augustine, FL

The Castillo de San Marcos, built 1672-1695, served primarily as an outpost of the Spanish Empire, guarding St. Augustine, the first permanent European settlement in the continental United States, and also protecting the sea route for treasure ships returning to Spain. Although the Castillo has served a number of nations throughout its history, it has never been taken by military force. During the 18th century, the Castillo went from Spanish control to British and back to the Spanish , who remained in power in Florida until the area was purchased by the United States in 1821. Called Fort Marion at this time, The Castillo was made a National Monument in 1924 and became part of the National Park system in 1933. The park consists of the original historic Castillo fortress itself with its attendant grounds, some 25 total acres.

CONTACTS

Email - casa_ranger_activities@nps.gov

Fax- 904-823-9388

Write to
One South Castillo Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32084

Phone
Headquarters Recorded Message - 904-829-6506
Visitor Information - 904-829-6506 ext 234

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
The Castillo de San Marcos is open to the public from 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM every day of the year except December 25. The grounds are closed from midnight until 5:30 am.

Visitation is highest June through Labor Day, during the December holidays, and March through April. Visitation is lowest from the middle of September through early December. School group visitation is quite high March trough May.

Getting There
PLANE - Nearby Jacksonville and Daytona are served by international airports with easy access to I-95. Rental cars are available at the airports and in St. Augustine.

CAR - From I-95: Take the exit for St. Augustine Historic Sites and Downtown (Route 16). Follow Rt. 16 to US 1. Turn right on US 1 for two miles to Castillo Drive. Turn left on Castillo to the traffic light. Turn right at the light. The Castillo and parking are ahead on the left. From A1A: The Castillo is located on A1A in downtown St. Augustine.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - There is no Public Transportation in St. Augustine, however, private companies operate tour trains, horse carriages, and bicycle and motor scooter rentals.

Weather & Climate
Summers can be very hot and bright with high humidity. Afternoon thundershowers are highly possible. We suggest you have some kind of sun protection, including sunscreen and UV protective sunglasses. Winters (December through March) can be cooler than one would think, and sudden cold snaps should be taken into consideration.

Accessibility
The entire first floor of the Castillo is wheelchair accessible, with only the top gundeck unavailable to those in wheelchairs. Handicapped parking is available in the parking lot, as are spaces for busses for short term parking.

Brochures on the history of the fort are available in several foreign languages.

A large bronze model of the fort located in the sallyport (entranceway) enables visually challenged visitors to feel the outlines of the fortress.

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
ADULT, AGE 17 AND ABOVE
$5.00 for 7 Days
The Castillo de San Marcos is considered to be a "walk-in" park. The entrance fee applies to each individual.

CHILDREN AGE 5 AND UNDER
Free!

CHILDREN AGE 6-16
$2.00 for 7 Days
Entrance fee for children age 6 through 16 is $2.00. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Special Use Permits
WEDDING PERMIT
$50.00 for Day
For more information and to apply for a permit, call Visitor Use Specialist Thomas Sims (904) 829-6506 ext. 246

Local Passport
CASTILLO PARK PASS
$15.00 for 12 Months
The Castillo Park Pass allows free entry for the card holder and his/her immediate family for 12 months from the date of purchase.

FACILITIES

Museums
CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS
Open All Year 8:45 am to 5:15 pm (Last ticket issued at 4:45pm)
Phone - 904-829-6506 ext. 234
Location - The museum is located within the rooms of the Castillo de San Marcos in downtown St. Augustine, Florida.
Closures - December 25
Exhibits - Each room or casemate focuses on a different theme or time period of the Castillo de San Marcos such as "The building of the Castillo", "Battles", "Artillery", and "Native Americans". Additionally, some rooms have been furnished to represent a Spanish barracks, British barracks, and storeroom. Various Spanish iron and bronze artillery pieces are exhibited on the gundeck or terreplein (roof).
Available Facilities - Restrooms are also located within the Castillo, and there is also a book sales area operated by Eastern National.

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