Fort Ground Level

The absence of a seawall meant the tidal flow of the Matanzas River undermined the foundations.

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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Fort Matanzas is located on a barrier island, which is volatile and ever-changing by nature. Today's landscape is totally different from what the Spanish soldiers would have seen.

The landscape around Fort Matanzas has changed much over the years. Logs written by the fort's officers describe the island as less than two acres in size. Officers also made log entries describing the condition of the fort. Officer Estevan LaCal, who was stationed at the fort in July of 1796, wrote "The cement of the fort is deteriorating under the ocean waves." Most of the land and rocks surrounding the fort today were added by the National Park Service to help secure the foundations from further erosion. The current size of Rattlesnake Island is due in part to the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway, which can be seen to the West of the fort.