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First settled in 1565, St. Augustine is generally regarded as the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States. While Florida did not enter the Union until well after the nation's founding, Spanish, French, and English colonists settled and disputed the area for most of the colonial period. The French arrived in 1562 at Ft. Caroline, only to be pushed out by the Spanish several years later when St. Augustine was founded. The old city and the remains of several coastal forts remain attractions today. The links below will give you more information. |
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The History of St. Augustine - The National Park Service offers a concise history of French and Spanish settlements in the 16th century, and an overview of how Florida came to be part of the United States. Read More About St. Augustine in this description of the Spanish settlements of the area. This site was developed by an area school to tell students about the history of the region. Forts Were Important Until the advent of heavy artillery in the 19th century, coastal defense depended on masonry forts at strategic locations. Several such forts were important in the history of the St. Augustine area. The Park Service explains coastal fortification building in this web page. Fort Caroline Was First - This fort was built by the French in 1562. It lasted only a few years until the Spanish arrived to claim the territory. You can visit a reconstruction of the fort buildings. Visit Fort Matanzas, one of the areas original Spanish fortifications. This fort was built to defend against English attacks from the south.
Castillo de San Marcos was built to defend St. Augustine. There is a lot to see at this location, along with explanations of how the forts protected settlers. View St. Augustine Today in this set of panoramic images taken by city residents.
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