29) Fort Matanzas National Monument
Fort Matanzas National Monument, administered by the National Park Service, takes its name from the Spanish word for "slaughter." At this site in 1565, Spanish forces massacred 350 French Huguenots. Fort Matanzas, constructed from 1737 to 1742, was part of an important Spanish defense network which included nearby Castillo de San Marcos. Like Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Caroline, Fort Matanzas represents the struggle between European nations for possession of the New World.
Fort Matanzas is fourteen miles south of St. Augustine. Open daily 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. A visitors center is on Anastasia Island off Florida A1A. The fort can be reached by ferry. For more information write or call: Superintendent, Fort Matanzas National Monument, 1 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084. (904) 471-0116.
National Register Home Page | NPS Links to the Past | NPS Home Page
