Place

Defense in Depth Wayside

At the top left and right corners of the panel, blue text against a tan background in English and green text against a blue background in Spanish reads: Defense in Depth.  Below and filling the upper half of the panel, a color illustration shows a cutaway section of the fort’s structure and defensive elements. At the left, brown lines mark the footprint of the fort’s left side; to the right is a 3-dimensional view of the fort’s right side. Around the illustration, text and thin black lines connect to and explain different parts of the fort and surrounding structural defenses.  Clockwise from left, the text reads, in English and Spanish:  Moat. The Castillo's moat was typically kept dry. Ravelin. The ravelin protects the weakest part of the fort-the entrance. Traverse. An earthen embankment to provide additional cover for soldiers in the covered way. Covered Way. This area between the moat and the glacis provided cover from enemy fire for soldiers moving around the fort. Glacis. The Spanish built this long slope to protect the fort’s lower walls and moat from enemy cannon fire.  End of Text  The fort’s interior walls have doors and windows that face a courtyard. Above, on the fort’s top, flat gun deck, cannons are placed on the perimeter and face outward. On the right, exterior wall of the fort, a brown walkway extends out from the entranceway over a dry brown moat. The walkway connects to a wedge-like structure called a ravelin.  Atop the ravelin are 5 figures with muskets. Below them are a dozen more figures. Beyond the ravelin is the moat, covered way, and glacis.  A “You are Hereâ€, arrow, located at the bottom center of the illustration, points to an area just outside the fort’s covered way.  Below the illustration, on the lower portion of the panel, white text on a brown background in English and Spanish reads:  Enemy troops would have encountered an obstacle course of rising slopes, low walls, and ditches before reaching the Castillo’s walls. The Spanish built this extensive defensive system to help protect the fort.  The ravelin, a wedge-shaped structure, shields the entrance. The moat and covered way enable soldiers to move around the fort, protected from enemy fire. The glacis limits how much of the fort the enemy can see or strike.  End of Text  Directly to the left and in front of the panel a low wall separates the upper level from the covered way below. Beyond the panel, views of the fort’s wedge-shaped ravelin; to its left, the walkway over the dry moat which connects to the fort’s entrance.  To the right, a slightly raised concrete bridge which wraps around the fort’s outer perimeter and the grassy glacis. [End of message]

Quick Facts

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Enemy troops would have encountered an obstacle course of rising slopes, low walls,and ditches before reaching the Castillo's walls. The Spanish built this extensive defensive system to help protect the fort. The ravelin, a wedge-shaped structure, shields the entrance. The moat and covered way enable soldiers to move around the fort, protected from enemy fire. The glacis limits how much of the fort the enemy can see or strike

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

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Last updated: April 9, 2021