Have you ever felt stronger as part of a group? Throughout our daily lives,
we often rely on strength in numbers. For instance, camping in a forest alone can feel spooky,
but bringing along family and friends can help build courage. Sometimes, finding the motivation
to exercise alone at home can be tough, but joining a class at a gym can give you a much-needed push.
And even the most talented solo musicians often produce their best sound when backed by a full band.
By joining together with others, we can often accomplish much more than we otherwise would alone.
In 1565, the Spanish established their first successful settlement in the New World at St. Augustine, Florida.
Over the townâs first one hundred years, defense proved difficult, as nine wooden forts were built,
then destroyed by fires, powerful hurricanes, and multiple pirate attacks. So for the tenth attempt in 1672,
the Spanish chose a new tack. For more than 20 years, Spaniards, enslaved Africans, European prisoners,
and native Timucua, Guale, and Apalache
built the Castillo de San Marcos from a local stone called coquina.
Unlike its wooden predecessors, this fort stood firm. Attacks proved futile;
even weeks of bombardment left little impact. One secret of the fortâs strength was the coquina.
Composed of tightly-packed shell fragments and air pockets, the rock could absorb the
impact from cannonballsâthe most damaging weapon of the timeâwhile leaving the overall structure intact.
Together, millions of tiny shells helped repel multiple British sieges and defend the city.
As testament to the collective strength of those who built itâand the stone they usedâ
Castillo de San Marcos remains standing today as the oldest stone fort in the continental United States.
But collective action also has the power to harm. Though the cannons have long since ceased firing
at the enemy, the fort now faces a new type of threat. As human actionsâmultiplied by billionsâ
warm our atmosphere, the waters of the Atlantic continue to rise.
Increasing sea level threatens to flood historic coastal structures, like Castillo de San Marcos,
and areas of St. Augustine already experience periodic flooding during king tide events.
Though one person alone may feel powerless against the challenge posed by sea level rise,
thereâs strength in numbers. Even the smallest positive actions we take today can add up
to help protect Castillo de San Marcos for tomorrow. For example, just staying on walkways
and keeping our hands off the coquina walls can help preserve the centuries of history
written into the stone. Andâbecause we are so much stronger together--thereâs still so much more we can do!
So what other actionsâtaken as a group over timeâcan help protect the places we love
in the face of climate change?
Can you picture it?