The unique southern live oak species twists and sculpts itself in response to its environment. Notice how most of the branches are leaning west-away from the salty air blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. Live oak wood is incredibly strong and was once the preferred material for ship building. Scan the long, twisting limbs for lichens, ferns, air plants, lizards, squirrels, and birds.
Bottlenose dolphins are a relatively common sight in the Matanzas River and in the ocean. They are very social animals and usually congregate together in groups of up to ten members. As with human beings, communication and cooperation are hallmarks of the species. There is a dolphin "language" that consists of noises resembling whistles, whines, groans, and jaw claps. They use their vocalizations to coordinate feeding behavior; sometimes by corralling fish close to shore,
The Junior Ranger Program encourages children ages 4 and above and their parents to explore both the history and nature of Fort Matanzas as a family and is a fun way for young visitors and their families to get the most out of their visit. As Junior Rangers, children will be a part of our team helping to protect our parks.<br /><br />Free booklets are available in the Visitor Center or digitally <a href="https://www.nps.gov/foma/learn/kidsyouth/upload/Fort-Matanzas-JR-Ranger-Book-2016.pdf">here</a> .<br />
The beaches of our National Monument are some of the most beautiful and popular in St. Augustine. One visit and you will see why! <br /><br />The park-protected beach stretches from the beach ramp all the way to the ferry docks. If you are at the park entrance, you will see a parking area directly across A1A. The beach ramp is open during the summer months and is operated by the county as an exit only ramp. If you wish to drive on the beach, head north on A1A to access the beach from another ramp; you will drive south and exit at our ramp. The beach south of the ramp is NPS property and is closed to motorized vehicles.<br /><br />If you drive south on A1A, you will find two parking areas before the bridge over the Matanzas Inlet. On the northbound side is a boardwalk over the dunes to the beach, an area that is favored by surfers and fishermen. The lot on the southbound side provides access to the river with a short, accessible boardwalk. The river side often has shallow areas ideal for swimming. Remember that the currents near the inlet are extremely strong as the tides go in and out. Use caution when swimming and supervise children closely. <br /><br />A popular fishing area is on the southern end of Rattlesnake Island. There is a small parking area accessible by a dirt road in the Summer Island neighborhood. Access to the fort itself is only permitted by the NPS ferry boat. Visitors on foot or in personal watercraft may not access the fort. <br /><br />Wherever you choose to enjoy our beaches, be safe and help us to preserve and protect our resources.<br />
What would Florida be without the pelican?? One of the joys of a visit to the shore is sighting a flotilla of these large, distinctive birds, silently gliding up or down the coastline with an occasional beat of their strong wings. Or watching them perched on dock pilings, looking like ambassadors for a sub-tropical lifestyle that winter-weary human snowbirds look forward to on each and every visit. Indeed, pelicans are so associated with the Florida coastal environment tha
Pick up a free trail guide to learn about the oldest and highest part of the barrier island is covered with a forest called a hammock ("shady place") -- an ancient dune on which larger plant species have taken root in the thin layer of decayed remains from pioneer species.Cabbage palm, red bay, magnolia, and live oak provide a canopy under which diverse animal species can thrive. These plants provide food for animals as well as for migrating birds who stop for a rest in the m
Fort Matanzas was built using coquina, a local limestone. This porous limestone is made from millions of seashells pressed together for thousands of years. The Spanish coated the fort walls with plaster made from oyster shells to help waterproof the structure.<br /><br />You can help us preserve the fort for generations to come: touch this sample of coquina instead of the historic walls.<br />
A solid foundation is vital for a fortification, especially underneath the heavy cannons. With the exception of the water cistern at the center, the base of the fort is filled in with dirt and construction debris. There was no need for extra storage space or to spend the time and resources to construct it of solid stone. The outer walls provided adequate protection against enemy attacks. The dirt filling provided enough support for the living space and observation tower as w
Since the 1930s, visitation to the park has greatly increased and the docks have gone through many changes. The first Visitor Center Dock was built in 1935 and was a simple wooden structure. It was replaced in 1978-1979 by an aluminum floating dock that moved with the tides. That dock was later replaced in 2001 with a concrete floating dock which is in use today. This dock has since been modified to work with the two current boats which began their ferry service in October 2011.
Look for wildlife tracks in the sand. You might see the paw prints of a raccoon, opossum, or even a bobcat. Look carefully for the faint trace of a lizard or a black racer snake. You may see a racerunner lizard itself, but because of daytime heat and the threat of being caught by predators, many wild animals search for food in the dark of the night.
The evergreen foliage attracts wildlife for food, protection, and nesting. Its fruit, young branches, and leaves have aromatic oils used in a variety of medicines. A tea made from its leaves can relieve a cough or calm restlessness.
While there are many things to do at Fort Matanzas National Monument, there is only one way to get to the fort. As long as weather, equipment, and staffing allows, we run our modern USCG inspected ferries 7 days a week except for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Grab your ticket for the 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, or 4:30 cruise at the visitor center and get ready for an adventure. <br /><br />
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, wrot
Coastal Florida was a major field of conflict as European nations fought for control in the New World. As part of this struggle, Fort Matanzas guarded St. Augustine's southern river approach.
Fishing is one of the best kept secrets of Fort Matanzas National Monument. With our close proximity to the Matanzas Inlet, we have an abundance of salt water fish species and a wide area to fish, both on the river side and ocean side. Recreational fishing provides a fun way to enjoy the outdoors with your family and maybe even catch your own dinner if you're lucky.
Who's been digging all those holes in the scrub habitat at Fort Matanzas National Monument? The shape of the holes gives an important clue as to who is responsible. The holes are typically hemispherical, as if something with a flat bottom and a convex top did the digging. There's basically only one creature which possesses such distinguishing characteristics- a tortoise! In this case, it's the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), an inhabitant of the coastal scrub that
Spanish soldiers left their houses in St. Augustine to man Fort Matanzas for 30 days at a time. This room became their shared home away from home.The first floor room served as the enlisted men's quarters. The soldiers cooked, ate, and slept in this room. Opposite the fireplace was a long, wooden sleeping platform. Benches and a table completed the furnishings. On average, six people shared this room. More men could be assigned as needed. The small openings on the south wal
The gundeck is the most fearsome part of the fort. At one time, this watchtower boasted 5 cannons, one of which could shoot up to three miles down range. Fort Matanzas is a very simple structure, its main strengths being the artillery and its strategic location. Five cannons once guarded the fort. Each cannon could easily reach the inlet, then only a half-mile away. Two original cannon still stand guard at the fort today. These guns were placed at the fort in 1793 and left b
Also known as the toothache tree, its bitter bark is a home remedy for toothache. In fact, all of its plant parts-seed, fruit, bark, and root-are useful. Seeds can be used like pepper and a tonic from the fruit can ease a stomach ache.
These evergreens have oval-shaped leaves, but differ in the details. The yaupon holly leaf is a near perfect oval with only a slight serration. The wax myrtle leaf is wavy and has a more pointed base with noticeable notches along its edge.
"Don't move! I'll be right back with lunch!" If you could translate Tern-speak, this is what you might hear in May or June at the least tern nesting colony at the southern tip of Anastasia Island at Fort Matanzas National Monument.Each spring this smallest member of the tern family leaves its wintering grounds along the coast of Central and South America. Some fly through Mexico to California; others follow the Mississippi River, and others fly to the eastern coast of the
When people think of a symbol of the American south, they often think of the graceful and majestic live oak festooned with Spanish moss or resurrection fern, like the gnarled old trees in the picnic area at Fort Matanzas.While many species of oak trees are found throughout the world's temperate zones, live oaks are native only from Virginia south to Florida and west to central Texas, especially thriving in the heat and humidity near the coast where they often form dense stran
Gunpowder storage was vital, even at this small watchtower. Cannons were the soldiers' only defense against an invading enemy. Located within the west wall of the fort and accessed only through the officer's quarters, the powder magazine kept the dangerous black powder from open flames used for heat and light. The magazine shaft extends down through the wall to the level of the gundeck. Although thick walls protected the black powder from enemy fire, humidity was often a pro
What connects Matanzas Bay to the Matanzas Inlet and flows right past Fort Matanzas? The Matanzas River of course! (You may notice a bit of a theme here.) Unlike most rivers, the Matanzas doesn't flow in just one direction. It is a tidally influenced waterbody that connects two ocean inlets- one at the port city of St. Augustine, and the other fourteen miles south (as the crow flies) at Fort Matanzas National Monument. Depending on if the tide is outgoing or incoming, th
The observation deck was one of the most vital parts of the Matanzas watchtower, as it enabled the soldiers to see for miles. Enemy ships would be spotted long before they posed a threat. Then, as now, a narrow ladder was the only access to the top of the tower. This opening probably had a cover to keep the rain out of the officer's quarters. The deck provided an excellent view of the inlet to the south. In 1742, the inlet was about a half-mile closer than it is now, within e
Fort Matanzas National Monument is located on the edge of one the world's most stupendous natural features- the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic is the second largest of the Earth's four oceans, covering about 21% of the globe and containing approximately 22 billion billion gallons of water. Its depth ranges from sea level to 27,841 feet at the Puerto Rico Trench (located north of the eponymously named island). Probably the most distinguishing feature of ocean water is its salinity. Due to the presence of salts and minerals washed into the seas over the eons from terrestrial sources, ocean water has a salinity of 3.5%. This is mostly due to the presence of sodium chloride, but also to minerals like magnesium, sulfate, calcium, potassium, etc. that were once part of rocks which were slowly eroded and carried downstream in rivers to their ultimate<br />destination.<br /><br />All the world's oceans are physically connected and together cover about 71% of the Earth's surface and collectively contain perhaps 352 quintillion gallons of water. The world ocean is the predominant natural feature on the planet.
The commanding officer at Fort Matanzas could survey all activities at the watchtower from his second-floor quarters. The commander of Matanzas had this room to himself. The entrance to his room was a staircase from the gundeck. On the left is a wall separating the officer's bedroom from a food storage area and the entrance to the powder magazine. Thick walls protected the gunpowder from enemy fire. The officer had one window looking north and three small musket loopholes
One of the first colonial conflicts between European nations happened near here in 1565. Spain had already claimed Florida when France established Fort Caroline near present-day Jacksonville. This French outpost threatened the security of Spanish treasure fleets that sailed along the Florida coast. To defend its claim, protect its fleet, and defend the Catholic religion, Spain sent 800 sailors, soldiers, and civilians to remove the French Protestants (Huguenots) from Florida
Dedicated volunteers handle Fort Matanzas Visitor Center. They will usually be the first people to welcome you to our park, unless you explore our nature trails and encounter one of our rangers. Volunteers are essential to our park operations and are a wealth of information. Upon arrival to the Visitor Center they will provide you with a boarding pass for the next available ferry
The marshy ground of Rattlesnake Island was less than ideal for a heavy stone fort, but brilliant construction techniques made it possible. Techniques for building stable foundations in unstable environments have evolved and improved over time. In the 18th century, wooden foundations were often the best option in in places such as the marshy shores of Rattlesnake Island. Friction pile construction consists of sturdy pine poles sunk vertically deep into the marsh. The poles w
When Florida was ceded to the United States in 1821 the tower was abandoned and almost forgotten for nearly one hundred years. It was not until 1916 that efforts were first made to preserve this unique part of America's history. The National Park Service continues to preserve this structure for future generations.
Step back in time to when Spain ruled Florida. Take a short boat trip to Fort Matanzas and visit the outpost guarding the back-door approach to St. Augustine. Hike the trails through a coastal forest and dunes to see a unique mix of plants and animals in this ecological transition zone. Watch the timeless interplay of waves and sand along the Atlantic coastline.
These palms both have long, narrow, blade-like fronds that radiate from a center point, but differ in their stem connection. Sabal palms have a defined center midrib and the saw palms have sharp, saw-toothed leaf stems.
One of the most prominent tree species growing at both Fort Matanzas and Castillo de San Marcos is the sabal palm (Sabal palmetto). This palm is widely distributed throughout the state, and is considered so indicative of Florida that it was chosen as the official state tree by the Florida Legislature in 1953.<br /><br />Another name for the sabal palm (its so-called "common" name) is cabbage palm. What is so apparently "cabbage-like" about the sabal palm that earned it this moniker? New palm fronds (the palm's green leaves) emerge from the top of the tree from a terminal bud that is shaped like a cabbage. Since this was the location where new green life emanated from the plant, some people considered it the "heart" of the palm. The fleshy, cabbage-shaped terminal bud is edible by humans, and was in fact a common food for Florida's Native American population. Even today people still use the tree as a food source (think heart-of-palm salad). Unfortunately, cutting out the terminal bud from a sabal palm will eventually kill the tree, since the bud is the only point where this species can produce new growth. (Luckily, other species of palms are available that don't die as a result of harvesting.) <br /><br />One of the many interesting facts about the sabal palm is that it and all other palm species are monocotyledons, or monocots. Monocots are a type of flowering plant that first evolved about 100 to 120 million years ago. (Sabal palms, in particular, evolved around 85 million years ago, making them one of the oldest palm species in existence.) What distinguishes monocots from other flowering plant species are anatomical features such as the way in which a monocot's vascular tissue is arranged. (Like animals, plants have a vascular system that transports water and nutrients throughout the organism.) In monocots the vascular bundles are arranged haphazardly, whereas in dicots they are segregated- water-carrying bundles towards the center of the plant, nutrient-carrying bundles towards the outer perimeter. The most important distinguishing feature is the number of cotyledons (or seed leaves) possessed by each type of plant. As the nomenclature implies, dicot seeds produce two leaves upon germination, and monocots only one. By virtue of their being monocots, palms are more closely related to other monocots such as grasses, corn, irises, and orchids than other types of flowering plants. <br /><br />Sabal palms are somewhat easy to identify based on their morphology, or growth form. They have tan-gray, unbranched trunks. All of the leaves, or fronds, sprout from the top of the plant and are fan-like (palmate) in shape. As the plant grows, the older fronds die off, leaving their bases still attached to the trunk. Over time the bases self-prune due to age and weather, leaving the trunk with a relatively smooth appearance. In developed areas, people often hasten this process by pruning off the old growth themselves for aesthetic reasons. Also in the name of aesthetics, people sometimes prune off live fronds from the crown of the tree to achieve a desired look. This can affect the tree's health, though, if done to excess. The green fronds are where the plant photosynthesizes. Photosynthesis is the chemical reaction whereby carbon dioxide and water are converted into carbohydrates and oxygen using the energy of the sun. Sugar and cellulose are carbohydrates that the palm requires for overall health and structural integrity. If too many fronds are removed too often, the tree can become weak and sickly. <br /><br />A healthy sabal palm can grow to a height of over eighty feet and achieve a stem diameter of nearly twenty-five inches. The fronds can get to almost ten feet in length. When in reproductive mode the palm produces clusters of cream-colored flowers that droop from the crown. Fertilized flowers become round, black fruits that each contain a single seed. The seeds are resistant to salt and are also buoyant. They germinate easily in moist sand, which is why the sabal palm is often found growing along water bodies. Its seeds are highly coveted as a food source by many animals, including: black bears, raccoons, bats, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, sea gulls, cardinals, grackles, blue jays, and scrub jays. <br /><br />By virtue of its natural resistance to insects and pathogens, this attractive, native tree is a ubiquitous member of Florida landscapes and fully deserves the recognition it's been given. <br />
One of the most common plants growing within the sand dune system at Fort Matanzas is sea oats (Uniola paniculata). It can be argued that sea oats is one of the most important species comprising the dune ecosystem, particularly the foredune. It is a hardy and salt tolerant plant that can survive in the harsh seashore environment. (It can even survive being inundated by sea water for short periods.) It and other pioneer plants help trap wind-blown sand, which is the first
Spanish naval ships began to fly this flag in the early 1500s in honor of their king. In those days, the flag of a country was actually the flag of the ruling house. Eventually, the army also began to fly this flag, and it came to represent Spain. As Spain's power spread to the New World and across the Pacific to the Philippines, this was the flag carried by ships and flown over the fortresses which guarded Spain's possessions. Thus, it is sometimes referred to as the Spanish
In 1742, cannon fire thundered from Fort Matanzas turning back longboats from British warships beyond the inlet. The fort's gunfire warned the British that the fort was now defensible.<br /><br />The Spanish could challenge any attempt by enemies to sneak up this southern waterway to attack St. Augustine.<br />
Though not as large or formidable as the Castillo de San Marcos, the coquina walls of Fort Matanzas were more than enough to protect its soldiers from enemy fire. Matanzas measures 50 feet on each side and 30 feet high. It was built of local shell stone called coquina. This stone was quarried south of the inlet and transported by boat to the construction site. The stones were held together with mortar made from sand, fresh water, and lime, which was produced by burning oyste
While the Matanzas River could provide the soldiers with food if their rations ran out, access to fresh water was vital for their survival. The fort's cistern is located under the gundeck with its opening under the stairs. It measures 13 feet deep and about 8 feet in diameter. The roof of the fort collected rain water which was directed into the cistern by a wooden pipe. There was no other source of fresh water on the island. However, if needed, the soldiers could bring water
The West Indian Manatee, the type of manatee found in Florida, is a member of the Dugong family which includes only five species--the West Indian, the Amazonian, and the West African Manatees, the Dugong of east Africa and the East Indies, and the extinct Steller's Sea Cow. In fact, most members of this family are slowing edging towards extinction.Several reasons for their decline include a high mortality rate, especially human-influenced (by motor boats, hunting, and discar
