Castillo de San Marcos - Red Slipware
A fragment of a glazed red slipware vessel, found during the excavation of a well in 1965.
Castillo de San Marcos - Decorative Monkey
We're not sure where this piece came from, but it's too cute not to show off! This decorative monkey sat on the rim of a green glazed earthenware vessel.
The Trinity and Saints in Paradise, or La Cour Céleste from a volume o...
Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14ht-15th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description. The concept of the Trinity is a central doctrine of Christianity... More
Photo of San Marcos Pottery - Public domain dedication
San Marcos pottery was made by Native Americans from the 1500s-1700s, at the time of European contact. It is generally thick, tempered with grit (large pieces of sand), and often decorated with stamping or punc... More
St Cecilia holding an organ, flanked by St Paul, St John the Evangelis...
Public domain reproduction of Italian art print, 16th-17th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Silver One Real - National Parks Gallery
A silver coin worth 1 real, from the Mexican mint (1536-1556). One side bears the crowned Pillars of Hercules and the words HISPANIARUM ET INDIARUM (of Spain and the Indies). The other side bears Spain's castle... More
Castillo Polychrome Majolica - National Parks Gallery
Castillo Polychrome was made in the late 17th century and has white paste and white background enamel, with naturalistic designs painted in light blue, and thin black lines emphasizing the design. Some vessels ... More
Spanish Belduque - National Parks Gallery
The belduque, sometimes called a 'peasant knife' after the people who generally carried them, is a large Spanish knife that some believe to be the ancestor of the Bowie knife. This belduque was made sometime in... More
8 lb Cannonball - National Parks Gallery
This eight-pound cannonball could either be a 16th century English or 17th century Spanish projectile, going by the measurements. It is solid iron and was used for knocking holes in walls or the hulls of ships.
Olive Jar Fragment - National Parks Gallery
This olive jar fragment dates between 1600 and 1800. These large ceramic vessels were primarily manufactured in Spain and were used to transport a variety of goods including olives and olive oil, hence the name... More
Photo of Puebla Blue Majolica - Public domain dedication
Puebla Blue and White is the most common type of the 18th century Puebla majolicas. It generally has a cream-colored background, with painted design motifs of florals, dots and lines in one or two shades of bl... More
Puebla Polychrome Majolica - National Parks Gallery
Puebla Polychrome has cobalt blue and black decoration with scroll-like and lobe designs painted in blue, overlaid with thin black lines in lacy patterns. Majolica is a wheel-thrown pottery, made with a soft ea... More
Abo Polychrome Majolica - National Parks Gallery
Abo Polychrome is brightly painted with orange, yellow, green-blue and brown floral or animal designs. The vessel always has an orange band around the rim, bordered by one brown line above and two below. Majoli... More
Hunting Knife - National Parks Gallery
This is an 18th century cuchillo de monte, or hunting knife, donated to the park by the government of Spain in 1960. The tapered wooden handle could be inserted into the barrel of a gun to be used as a bayonet.... More
Shoe Buckle - National Parks Gallery
18th century shoes did not tie; they buckled! Shoe buckles could range from simple to extremely ornate. This one is somewhere in the middle. It is heavy cast brass with mutiple decorative bumps on it.
Silver Fork, from Spanish treasure fleet
In 1715, a Spanish treasure fleet loaded with silver encountered a hurricane near present-day Vero Beach. 11 out of 12 ships sank in the storm. This silver fork was recovered from one of the wrecks off Sebastian Inlet.
Pewter Plate, from Spanish treasure fleet
In 1715, a Spanish treasure fleet loaded with silver encountered a hurricane near present-day Vero Beach. 11 out of 12 ships sank in the storm. This pewter plate was recovered from one of the wrecks off Sebastian Inlet.
Silver Two Reales - National Parks Gallery
A silver coin worth 2 reales, dated 1721. One side bears a crowned Bourbon Spanish coat of arms and the words PHILLIPUS V.D.G. (King Philip V). The other side bears Spain's castles and lions and the words HISPA... More
1737 Plan of the Castillo - Public Domain image, National Parks Galler...
1737 Plan of the Castillo before the renovations began to make the fortress look as it does today.
Decorative Button - National Parks Gallery
This brass button was found on the northeast beach of Anastasia Island, near where General Oglethorpe's British troops had their cannons set up to bombard the Castillo in 1740. It has a decorative design on it ... More
Brown Bess Bayonet - National Parks Gallery
This bayonet piece was found at Fort Frederica National Monument, just up the road from us on St. Simon's Island, GA. It was made for a British "Brown Bess" musket, one of the most popular weapons ever produced... More
1785 drawing of the Castillo's chapel door.
The door and frame was completed in 1751-56. This drawing was used to help reconstruct the door we see today.
1756 Plan of the Castillo after renovations were completed.
The surrounding outer defenses and interior room layout after the 1738-1756 remodel.
1763 Map featuring the Ravelin as it should have been built. The struc...
1763 Map featuring the Ravelin as it should have been built. The structure in front of the drawbridge never finished construction.
1763 drawing of the Castillo. - Public domain architectural drawing
1763 drawing of the Castillo. Public domain photograph of French architecture design drawing, building plan, Paris, France, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
1763 color plan for the fortress ravelin. The structure in front of t...
1763 color plan for the fortress ravelin. The structure in front of the drawbridge was never completed.
1763 Plan for the Ravelin. Never completed.
The ravelin, structure in front of the drawbridge was never finished. This plan shows the intended design.
Copper Halfpenny - GEORGIUS III REX BRITANNIA 1775.
A copper half-penny, dated 1775. One side bears a portrait bust and the words GEORGIUS III REX (George III King). The other side bears the Lady Britannia and the words BRITANNIA 1775.
1785 Plan of the Castillo - Public domain architectural plan drawing
This drawing shows the for's interior rooms and outer defenses after the British made various improvements.
1785 Map and plan of the Castillo.
1785 Map and plan of the Castillo. Showing the layout of the rooms and the immediate outer defenses.
Spanish Sword - National Parks Gallery
This Spanish sword dates sometime between 1790 and 1810. It was purchased from a dealer in Maryland and transferred to the Castillo in 1967.
Abandoned Cannon found in the fort
In 1793 the Spanish delivered two 8-Pounder Iron Cannons to Fort Matanzas. In 1821, after leaving the fort to the United States, these cannons were left behind. The guns were forgotten and left to rust. The ... More
1797 Map of the City of St Augustine
The city of St. Augustine and the surrounding bay front.
Fort Matanzas in the late 1800s
This is possibly the oldest photo of Fort Matanzas. Public domain photograph - American ruins, National Parks, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Pipe Bowl - National Parks Gallery
This decorative orange tobacco pipe bowl, which dates to the 19th century, was found in one of the rooms inside the Castillo.
Padlock - National Parks Gallery
This mid-19th century padlock is American, likely turned over along with the fort itself in 1933, when the War Department transferred a number of monuments and forts to the National Park Service.
Minie Ball - National Parks Gallery
The advent of the Minie ball changed warfare in the 19th century. Rifled muskets existed as far back as the 1500s, but they were time-consuming to load, as the only available ammunition was a round lead ball. T... More
St Augustine's Day from "The History of England from the earliest dawn...
This image has been taken from scan 000153 from volume 01 of "The History of England from the earliest dawn of authentic record ... Embellished with ... engravings". The title and subject terms of this image ha... More
Silver Peso coat of arms - coin, public domain photograph
A silver peso, or "piece of eight," showing significant signs of wear. One side bears traces of a coat of arms, an 8, and the letters "AROLU." The 8 marks the denomination; this coin is worth 8 reales. "AROLU" ... More
Cuban Regiment Button - National Parks Gallery
This brass button is stamped CUBA, indicating it belonged to a member of the Regiment of Cuba, 3rd Battalion. This regiment was stationed in St. Augustine from 1789 to 1818, during Florida's second Spanish period.
Castillo de San Marcos after heavy snowfall
The south east corner and front entrance of the fort. Public domain photograph of water reservoir, lake, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Pipe Bowl - National Parks Gallery
This clay tobacco pipe bowl was also found in Castillo's moat, but this type dates to between 1775 and 1825.
Snowfall at the Castillo de San Marcos
The south east covered way of the Castillo. Snow covering the grounds
Tourist Attraction - Snowfall at the Castillo
A view of the main entrance boardwalk, south west bastion, moat and covered way.
Castillo de San Marcos - Mechanical Pencil
This silver mechanical pencil was gifted to William A. Carter by famous Seminole warrior Osceola in 1837. It was donated to the park by Carter's grandson. The tapered point still holds lead!
Cannon crew at the Castillo, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument,...
Photo date unknown. Pictured: 19th century cannon crew at the Castillo. These cannons are no longer in place but you can still see the mounting blocks and the traverses in the water battery.
1842 Plan of the Castillo - Public domain vintage map
The Castillo was re-named Fort Marion by the U.S. Army. This map shows the layout of the rooms and views from the interior courtyard.
1842 drawing of the Castillo, then known as Fort Marion.
1842 drawing of the Castillo, then known as Fort Marion. Shows layout of the rooms, both overhead and side views.
St Augustine's Abbey from "Ward's Canterbury Guide. ... Tenth edition....
This image has been taken from scan 000101 from "Ward's Canterbury Guide. ... Tenth edition. [With illustrations.]". The title and subject terms of this image have been generated from tags, created by users of ... More
Colt Revolver - National Parks Gallery
This is a .32 caliber 1849 model Colt pocket revolver. It has five chambers which all appear to be loaded, but the rounds inside are severely corroded. The St. Augustine Historical Society recorded that it was ... More
Design drawing for stained glass window with St Augustine
Annotations on drawing: SA 410, G 5808. DGS Slide no. 535. Sticker: Gothic. Purchase, Donald Samick, 2003 (DLC/PP-2003:109). Forms part of: Lamb Design Collection.
[Design drawing for stained glass window with St Augustine of Hippo]
Picryl description: Public domain image of a stained glass, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Date Palms, St. Augustine, Fla.
Public domain photograph of 19th-century vintage card, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Date Palm, St. Augustine, Fla.. Albumen print, Getty Museum. Public do...
Public domain photograph of 19th-century vintage card, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Ancient Cathedral, St. Augustine, Fla.
Public domain image of a cathedral or church building, 19th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
The original door featured in a photograph taken in c. 1875-1878
The original door featured in a photograph taken in c. 1875-1878
Fort and City Gates of St. Augustine, Fla.
Public domain photograph of historic place, landmark, 19th-century, vintage travel, landscape, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Abandoned Cannon on Fort Gundeck 1880s
One of two original Spanish cannons left behind on the fort's gun platform. Both cannons are now on display at the fort
Fort Matanzas Ruins 1880s - Public Domain image, National Parks Galler...
This is possibly the oldest photo of Fort Matanzas. Much of the white plaster is still visible on the walls.
View of City Gate and Huguenot cemetery
c. 1880's photograph probably taken from the roof of the seven story San Marco Hotel.
Court of the Monastery of St Augustine, Bourges
Picryl description: Public domain image of a tavern, pub, or small restaurant, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
[Plaza de la Constitution, St. Augustine, Fla.]
Public domain photo of a monument, historic place, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Cordova Hotel: St. Augustine, Florida
Local call number: N039503..Title: Cordova Hotel: St. Augustine, Florida..Date: ca. 1895..Photographer: Pierre O. Havens ( http://www.floridamemory.com/solr-search/results/?q=collection:"Florida Photographic Co... More
[(---illeg.) watch towers & Look-out - Fort San Marco St. Augustine Fl...
Public domain scan of 17th-18th century landscape print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
US Army Belt Buckle - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
A typical U.S. Army Infantry belt buckle, made of lead-filled brass. This one was found near the surface on the western side of the Castillo. U.S. Army troops occupied the fort from 1821 to 1900, with the excep... More
Snowfall at Castillo de San Macros
A view of the Waterbattery. Public domain photograph - American ruins, National Parks, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Design drawing for stained glass window with St Augustine of Hippo
Annotations on drawing: SA372, g-5590. Sticker: Stained Glass Association of America, Gothic Lamb. Purchase, Donald Samick, 2003 (DLC/PP-2003:109). Forms part of: Lamb Design Collection.
Casino pool at the Alcazar Hotel: St. Augustine, Florida
Local call number: RC03593..Title: Casino pool at the Alcazar Hotel: St. Augustine, Florida..Date: ca. 1905..General Note: The Alcazar Hotel, located at 75 King Street in St. Augustine, Florida, was built by in... More
Alcazar Hotel: St. Augustine, Florida
Local call number: RC06993..Title: Alcazar Hotel: St. Augustine, Florida..Date: ca. 1910..General Note: The Alcazar Hotel, located at 75 King Street in St. Augustine, Florida, was built by industrialist Henry M... More
1785 drawing of the Castillo's Chapel door entrance.
These plans were used in the 1912 reconstruction of the Chapel doors and elaborate framework.
1785 Chapel Door Blueprint - Public Domain image, National Parks Galle...
This pencil sketch plan of the Castillo's Chapel door was used during the 1912 reconstruction of the door and door frame.
Castillo de San Marcos - Confederate Sword
This short sword was originally labeled by the St. Augustine Historical Society as "Spanish sword from Matanzas," found in 1863, but curators now state that it is of French or Confederate origin, "likely Confed... More
Fort Gundeck in 1914 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
This picture was taken on the gun platform before any restoration efforts had started. Notice the cedar tree on the left side of the image.
Southeast corner being rebuilt in 1915
Early restoration efforts involved removing the stones brick by brick. Public domain photograph - American ruins, National Parks, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort gundeck in Ruins 1915 - Public Domain image, National Parks Galle...
While in ruins, the Southeast corner of the fort gundeck had fallen away. The photo was taken in 1915
Sailboat and Trinite - National Parks Gallery
Public domain photograph of a boat, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
East Boardwalk Overlook - National Parks Gallery
The storm surge washed out much of the dunes throughout the park. Only one pole now prevents this overlook from falling. The other three are suspended in the air.
Tower Arch Reconstruction - National Parks Gallery
To rebuild the tower arch, a wood frame had to first be constructed. This frame was removed after all the stones were put in place.
Damage to the Southeast Corner - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
Before restoration, the Southeast corner of the gundeck had completely broken off.
1993 Ferry to Fort Matanzas - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
Named the Matanzas Queen Two. Owned and operated by the National Park Service
National parks: KIMG0815 - public domain image
Public domain photograph of a boat, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
National parks: KIMG0801 - public domain image
Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Dock Gangway 1 - National Parks Gallery
Wave action and high storm surge caused the floating section of the dock to put stress on the metal gangway and pulled some of the bolts from their concrete footing.
Silver Four Reales - National Parks Gallery
A silver 4 real coin from Mexico City. One side bears Spain's castles and lions. The other side bears Phillip IV's coat of arms.
Amphitheater after tree removal
Tree crews worked hard to make the park safe after the storm. Unfortunately many of the trees had to be removed.
East Boardwalk Beach Side - Public Domain image, National Parks Galler...
This was once a ramp that was partially buried by the dune system. Much has been washed out from the storm surge.
National parks: KIMG0877 - public domain image
Public domain photograph of park, trees, outdoors, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Gundeck Reconstruction, Fort Matanzas
Conditions of the fort required this portion to be completely disassembled for later repairs.
East Boardwalk Entrance - National Parks Gallery
Looks can be deceiving. Although the entrance of the ocean side boardwalk looks safe, further down the trail received significant damage.
National parks: KIMG0789 - public domain image
Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Dock, Fort Matanzas - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
The red arrows show how high the storm surge brought the dock up it's pilings.
Shoreline Mapping at Fort Matanzas National Monument
Shoreline mapping done at Fort Matanzas National Monument last fall.
National parks: KIMG0857 - public domain image
Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
National parks: KIMG0834 - public domain image
Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Dock Rollers, Fort Matanzas - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
The docks here at the park are designed to float with the tides. Rollers are put in place to allow the dock to smoothly move on the pilings. This picture shows one of the rollers missing. The high winds and ... More
Trees in the Fort - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
This photo was taken on the fort gundeck. Years of neglect allowed many trees to grow from the historic watchtower. Notice the cedar tree on the left side of the image.
National parks: KIMG0831 - public domain image
Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Trinite and sailboat - National Parks Gallery
Picryl description: Public domain image of a damaged, burned, or destroyed building, natural disaster, war destruction, ruins, 19th-century architecture, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
VC front, Fort Matanzas - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Picryl description: Public domain image of a damaged, burned, or destroyed building, natural disaster, war destruction, ruins, 19th-century architecture, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Plans drawn by park staff to successfully recreate the original Spanis...
Plans drawn by park staff to successfully recreate the original Spanish door.