The first Spanish settlement in the continental U.S. was located at St. Augustine, Florida and the area is rich in historic and cultural sites. If you are visiting St. Augustine, then a short 15 mile trip south to the Fort Matanzas National Monument will provide you and your family with a most enjoyable outing, giving you a glimpse at the beginning of European settlement in this country.

Fort Matanzas was constructed by the Spanish in the years 1740-1742 as a means to control the Matanzas Inlet which was the backdoor entrance to St. Augustine. It is located on Rattlesnake Island which was originally comprised of only two acres of dry land.

Although extensive restoration work has been done over the years, the majority of the stone that visitors see today is original. The site was declared a National Monument in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge and the visitor center was built in 1937 as part of Franklin Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (a depression era program to provide work to the unemployed through the improvement of the nation’s infrastructure).

That’s all in the past, so what can you find at the monument now? Well, there are a number of things to do at the Fort. The first thing is to wander around and view the exhibits. The park provides brochures to help you understand what you are seeing.

You can really learn more by listening to your boat captain (you reach the fort via a ferry) or an interpretive guide and then watching a video, which is shown on request at the visitor center. The video goes into the history of the park and also delves into the natural history of the region.

Speaking of the natural history, you don’t have to remain confined to a movie. You can walk on a nature trail boardwalk through the maritime forest that is adjacent to the fort, go fishing from the river shore, or walk along the river beach or ocean beaches. Or you may simply want to just sit on a bench and enjoy the scenic view and ponder on the history of this beautiful locale.

The Visitor Center, restrooms, and nature trail are wheelchair accessible. The ferry boat to the fort and the fort itself are not accessible. There is a stairs of fifteen steps to get up to the fort. Handicapped parking is available in the parking area.

Fort Matanzas National Monument is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM every day of the year except December 25. Ferries from the Visitor Center to the Fort leave on the half hour starting at 9:30 am, and the last ferry leaves at 4:30 pm. There is no charge for the ferry and there are no fees to visit the fort either.

As might be expected the fort is busiest on weekends, holidays and during the spring school visitation months. If you want a more relaxed visit it is better to come or weekday or early in the day.

Here is the contact information for this park: 8635 A1A South, St Augustine, FL 32080, Fort Matanzas Visitor Center and Office telephone: 904-471-0116.

Janice McSherry writes frequently about Florida tourism. She is the proprietor of www.floridavacationsvillas.com . Visit her website for great deals on Florida Vacation Rentals

Janice McSherry is a Florida vacations specialist. She is the proprietor of Florida Vacations Villas (http://www.floridavacationsvillas.com). Visit her
website for deals on Vacation Rental Homes in Orlando.

Author Bio: Janice McSherry writes frequently about Florida tourism. She is the proprietor of www.floridavacationsvillas.com . Visit her website for great deals on Florida Vacation Rentals

Category: Advice
Keywords: St. Augustine attractions, Fort Matanzas