Castillo de San Marcos Photography Guide

About Castillo de San Marcos

Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the United States and the only standing 17th-century military construction in the country. This National Monument preserves more than 450 years of history where Spanish, British, American, and Confederate forces each claimed control—yet the fort was never captured in battle.

After English pirate Robert Searle attacked and burned St. Augustine in 1668, Spain's Queen Regent Mariana approved construction of a permanent stone fortification. Work began on October 2, 1672, under Governor Manuel de Cendoya, with the first coquina stones laid that same year. Construction took 23 years, with Native Americans from nearby Spanish missions providing most of the labor and skilled workers brought from Havana, Cuba.

The Remarkable Coquina Walls

The Castillo's walls are 14 feet thick, constructed from coquina—a soft limestone made of compressed ancient shells. Workers quarried this unique stone from Anastasia Island (now Anastasia State Park) at what was called the "King's Quarry." Oyster shells were heated in kilns to create lime mortar, and the entire fort was coated with lime stucco for protection.

The coquina proved remarkably effective in battle. When English cannonballs struck the walls, instead of shattering or puncturing the stone, the soft coquina absorbed the impact—cannonballs simply sank into the walls rather than breaking through. This unique property helped the fort withstand multiple sieges. Castillo de San Marcos is one of only two forts built from coquina; the other is Fort Matanzas, completed in 1742 and located 15 miles south.

Centuries of History

The fort changed hands and names multiple times through history. When Britain gained Florida in 1763, it became Fort St. Mark. Spain reclaimed it in 1783. After the United States acquired Florida in 1821, it was renamed Fort Marion (honoring Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion). The fort was declared a National Monument in 1924, deactivated in 1933 after 251 years of continuous military use, and transferred to the National Park Service. Congress restored its original Spanish name in 1942.

Why Photographers Love This Location

The Castillo offers dramatic textures and architectural elements that create stunning portrait backdrops. The massive coquina walls—weathered by centuries of sun, rain, and salt air—provide incredible depth and historical character. The star-shaped bastions at each corner offer dramatic angles, while the grassy areas surrounding the fort provide open space with the imposing walls as a backdrop.

The fort overlooks Matanzas Bay with views of the Bridge of Lions and downtown St. Augustine. Golden hour transforms the coquina into warm shades of orange and pink, while blue hour sessions capture the lit-up bridge and city skyline behind. The fort faces east, so morning light illuminates the walls beautifully for earlier sessions.

The exterior grounds and bayfront are free to access and don't require photography permits, making this an accessible location for engagement and family sessions. Just note that professional photography inside the fort itself requires a National Park Service permit—but the exterior locations are often more photogenic anyway.