Crescent Beach

Ft. Matanzas National Monument

Photo by Mark. M. M.

Guest contributor

From the National Park Service:

The area of the Matanzas inlet, now preserved within the park boundaries, was the scene of crucial events in Spanish colonial history. The massacre of French soldiers here in 1565 was Spain's opening move in establishing a colony in Florida. Later, the construction of Fort Matanzas in 1740-1742 was Spain's last effort to ward off British encroachments from the north.

Fort Matanzas National Monument is open every day of the year except December 25. The park is located on Hwy A1A, fourteen miles south of downtown St. Augustine, the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the continental United States and home of the Castillo de San Marcos which is also a unit of the National Park system.


Free Ferry Service to the fort leaves every hour at half past the hour, 9:30 am -- 4:30 pm from the dock behind the visitor center. Tours generally last 45-50 min.