A Visit to the Old Fort

George and I were really excited to be able to spend the day with Kyle and Kim and their family.  Their family is always so busy--it is difficult to get together, but somehow the stars all aligned so we could spend Saturday together.

After eating lunch, we headed for the fort--actually called "Castillo de San Marcos" which is on the inlet of St. Augustine.

It was fun walking through the narrow streets of St. Augustine after we finally found a parking place.  The city was packed today.  But with it being so hot, we had to stop for first things first--some nice, cool ice cream!

Crossing over the moat bridge into the fort.  This formerly was filled with water.

The fort began to be built in 1672, 107 years after the city's founding by the Spanish, when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire.  
The Castillo is made of a stone called coquina, Spanish for "small shells", made of ancient shells that have bonded together to form a type of stone similar to limestone.  The Spanish soldier said it was like Rice Krispie squares--when it bonded it was almost impossible to get it apart.  Plus, it didn't shatter like cement would. Therefore, no battle was ever lost here with these 18-19 foot walls. 

Workers were brought in from Cuba to construct the fort in addition to Native American laborers. The coquina was quarried from the 'King's Quarry' on Anastasi and ferried across to the construction site. Construction began on October 2, 1672 and lasted twenty-three years, with completion in 1695.  The coquina is soft when it is still wet, so the workers used hammers and chisels to form the doors and openings.  Then, after it dried, it became very hard.  The furthest a cannon ball came through the wall was three feet--so it was never really in danger from being knocked down since it was nearly 20 feet thick.

An excellent demonstration is given by the "Spanish" soldiers of how the cannons were fired.  The firing took place obviously without the cannon ball inside, but with all the gun powder loaded nevertheless.

A small parade took place as the soldiers brought in all the necessary tools for the firing to take place.

This was actually quite a small cannon, they said, but if it were actually loaded with a real cannon ball, it would shoot as far as the light house.

There were quite a few steps involved in the firing from making sure the cannon is anchored with boards behind its wheels, to clearing the barrel of any debris, to loading the powder, to tamping the powder down in . .

Until finally the firing took place.  They kept telling us it would be loud . . . well, it was so startling, I can't believe I really got this picture.  I was so startled, I almost dropped my camera!

Then they clean the residue out . . .

and pull the cannon back into position.

George, as we were looking over the inner-courtyard.

 George, Kim, and Jenna with the Spanish soldiers.

 Although no one really lived in the fort, the soldiers would put in their time just like a fireman does for so many days, and then go home.  Therefore, they have to have bunks for them.

 Two would sleep on the top bunk, and two on the bottom bunk.  Their rifles and coats would be on the end of the bunk.  Those soldiers must have been short because this bunk doesn't look very long, or wide!

 This was where the chapel was.  As it stated on the sign below:  "Roman Catholic Christianity was the common faith throughout the Spanish empire."

 The ceiling of the chapel area. 

 Again from the information, we learned that these indentions and holes in the wall are from decades of worshipers who dipped their fingers in the fonts when they made their cross before worship.  Oils and minerals from their hands may have started the erosion on these walls. 

 This was the treasury room where Kim, Brady, and Jenna are standing.  Wow!  I would have hated to be the accountant here--absolutely no windows and a double thick door insured there would be no robbing of its contents.

 Grandpa George and Brady looking over one of the smaller cannons.

 And here I am with one of the larger cannons.

All of the soldiers are actually volunteers who love to come to show and tell the history of this fort.  We all enjoyed hearing the history and watching the demonstrations--and especially loved being with Kyle, Kim, Carter, Jenna, and Brady.  Thanks for the truly fun day!