Welcome to the Fort Matanzas National Monument IN DEPTH Webpage!

The purpose of these pages is to provide you, the visitor, with more detailed information about the National Park Service and in particular Fort Matanzas National Monument. The buttons on the left will quickly take you to each subject.

The area of the Matanzas inlet, now preserved within the park boundaries, was the scene of crucial events in Spanish colonial history. The massacre of French soldiers here in 1565 was Spain's opening move in establishing a colony in Florida. Later, the construction of Fort Matanzas in 1740-1742 was Spain's last effort to ward off British encroachments from the north.

Fort Matanzas National Monument is open every day of the year except December 25. The park is located on Hwy A1A, fourteen miles south of downtown St. Augustine, the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the continental United States and home of the Castillo de San Marcos which is also a unit of the National Park system.

Free Ferry Service to the fort leaves every hour at half past the hour, 9:30 am -- 4:30 pm from the dock behind the visitor center. Tours generally last 45-50 min.

Announcements--

The Garita News-- The Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas Volunteer Newsletter

is available Here. For the previous edition (#2), click Here.

Education Materials are now available on this site. Click on the "Education" button to the left. These materials will help students and teachers prepare for a field trip to St. Augustine and to Fort Matanzas as well as offer enrichment materials for anyone studying Florida or American History, or Spanish colonies in the New World.

General Management Plans--The Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas National Monuments are in the process of developing new General Management Plans which will guide the operations of these parks for the next 10-15 years. The public is an important part of the planning process.

Three tentative plans for the Castillo have been presented for public comment. To view the plans click Here.

The General Management Plan for Fort Matanzas National Monument is still under development. For more information, click Here.

Questions about Fort Matanzas National Monument? Please send email to foma_site_supervisor@nps.gov with your query.

Questions and feedback about this website? Please send e-mail to linda_chandler@nps.gov with your comments and questions.

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These pages last modified July 2006

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