Day 149 - February 27, 2013: Last day in St. Augustine

Today brought some sunshine, but it was still cool and windy. We went into town and rode the trolley to the fort. There were lots of people on the streets taking advantage of this historic town and its tourist attractions.

This fort, named Castillo de San Marcos, was completed in 1695 by the Spanish in a location which previously held nine different wooden forts and was occupied at various times by the Spanish, French and British. This was a strategic location along the Florida coast and Gulf Stream, with an inlet and an interior harbor, and control of this port was critical to control of the Florida area. The Spanish constructed the fort out of coquina, which proved to be almost totally impervious to canon ball bombardments, and protected it with 80 canons. Later, it was occupied again by the French, British, and Confederates. Today it is a U.S. National Park. 

Corner with a diamond shaped Bastion

Anne guarding the moat

Looking out over the Matanzas Bay and Inlet

Demonstration of arms

After a late breakfast at Mary's Café, we went to see the Memorial Presbyterian Church built in 1889. It was given to the community by Henry Flagler as a memorial to his daughter who died in childbirth. The church design follows the Spanish theme of his hotels and his home and contains a mausoleum for Henry and his family. 

Flagler's Memorial Presbyterian Church

With calmer weather, we moved onto a mooring ball and got great panoramic night views of the town.