{"id":"nps-casa","slug":"castillo-de-san-marcos-national-monument","name":"Castillo de San Marcos National Monument","designation":"National Monument","category":"national-monument","categoryLabel":"National Monument","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"CASA","designation":"National Monument","sourceId":"nps-casa"}],"states":["FL"],"stateNames":["Florida"],"location":{"lat":29.89785701,"lon":-81.31217173},"bbox":[-81.3142,29.8956,-81.3109,29.8994],"acres":{"value":17,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural intersections.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=29.8994&b_tl_lng=-81.3142&b_br_lat=29.8956&b_br_lng=-81.3109","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Castillo%20de%20San%20Marcos%20National%20Monument","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/casa/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7E9A99-1DD8-B71B-0B5C1C290617CA10.jpg","title":"Castillo Drawbridge","alt":"Drawbridge entrance to the Castillo de San Marcos","caption":"Crossing a dry moat, this drawbridge was the only way into the Castillo.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7E9C21-1DD8-B71B-0BD0130B2301D251.jpg","title":"Castillo de San Marcos Hot Shot Furnace","alt":"Furnace for heating cannon balls","caption":"This furnace, in the water battery on the east side of the Castillo, heated cannonballs red hot to be fired at wooden vessels.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7E9D4A-1DD8-B71B-0BF818568C6A02B4.jpg","title":"Castillo de San Marcos Cannon","alt":"Four black iron cannon mounted on carriages line the walls of the Castillo.","caption":"The Castillo features both iron and bronze cannon and mortar from the period.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7E9EBA-1DD8-B71B-0B74E5FB66D9CBB0.jpg","title":"Castillo de San Marcos Cannon Firing","alt":"Re-enactors of the first Spanish period cover their ears while firing a cannon.","caption":"Cannon firing demonstrations are scheduled five times a day every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7EA03D-1DD8-B71B-0B1EB4B61FB5F117.jpg","title":"Castillo de San Marcos Aerial View","alt":"Aerial view of the Castillo and the city of St. Augustine","caption":"the Castillo commands the northern edge of the heart of downtown St. Augsutine.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Living History","Historic Weapons Demonstration","Junior Ranger Program","Park Film"],"topics":["Architecture and Building","Forts","Hispanic American Heritage","Maritime","Coastal Defenses","Military","Artillery","Monuments and Memorials","Wars and Conflicts","Colonial/European Contact Conflicts"],"fees":[{"title":"Entrance - Per Person","cost":"15.00","description":"The Castillo de San Marcos is considered to be a \"walk-in\" park. The entrance fee applies to each individual. Tickets are not transferable and cannot be given to other guests. Adults (Age 16 and above) entrance is $15.00 and valid for 7 consecutive days. Children (age 15 and under) are admitted free of charge but must be accompanied by an adult."}],"passes":[{"title":"Annual Entrance - Park","cost":"45.00","description":"Pass covers entrance fees only at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Pass allows one passholder to print and sign their name and is valid for 12 months through the month of purchase. Pass covers the passholder and three additional adults (16 and over) when entering the Castillo."}],"hours":[{"name":"Castillo de San Marcos National Monument","description":"The Castillo de San Marcos is open to the public 7 days per week, except Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) and Christmas Day (December 25). A maximum capacity of 100 visitors in the historic fort at any time will be in effect. First admission is at 9:00 a.m. and last admission is at 5:00 p.m. The Castillo closes and visitors must exit at 5:15 p.m. The park grounds are closed from midnight until 5:30 a.m.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"9:00AM - 5:00PM","monday":"9:00AM - 5:00PM","thursday":"9:00AM - 5:00PM","sunday":"9:00AM - 5:00PM","tuesday":"9:00AM - 5:00PM","friday":"9:00AM - 5:00PM","saturday":"9:00AM - 5:00PM"},"exceptions":[]}],"directions":"On State Route A1A overlooking Matanzas Bay in the heart of the historic district of Saint Augustine, the Castillo is approximately a five mile drive from Interstate 95.","weatherInfo":"St. Augustine has a semi-tropical climate with over 300 days of sunshine each year. Summers (May-September) are hot, bright, and humid with afternoon thunderstorms common. Temperatures range from the lower 70s to the mid 90s F. Spring (March-mid-May) and Autumn (October-late November) can be pleasant with temperatures ranging from the upper 50s into the 80s F. The Winter months (December-March) are usually dry. Temperatures can be cool ranging from the upper 30s through the 60sF.","contacts":{"phone":"9048296506","email":"casa_ranger_activities@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[],"campgrounds":[],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"fort-matanzas-national-monument","km":22},{"slug":"timucuan-ecological-and-historic-preserve","km":66},{"slug":"ocala-national-forest","km":87},{"slug":"ocala-national-game-refuge","km":89},{"slug":"lake-woodruff-national-wildlife-refuge","km":91},{"slug":"cumberland-island-national-seashore","km":108}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=casa"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.609Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Park Closure","title":"Construction for Seawall Project","text":"Starting July 27, 2026, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument will begin construction to replace, raise and rehabilitate the park’s failing seawalls. The historic fort will remain accessible throughout the project. Some areas outside of the fort will be closed for safety.","url":null,"updated":"2026-07-21 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-E38BA54D-ABA6-421D-885E-564DDDED1FB6"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Fee Stations Credit Card Only","text":"Fee Stations are only accepting credit cards for the purchase of entry tickets and passes.","url":null,"updated":"2022-02-28 09:58:39.0","id":"nps-0BE0F116-0919-45DC-9827-B6A2443166E0"},{"source":"NWS","kind":"Rip Current Statement","severity":"Moderate","title":"Rip Current Statement issued November 8 at 1:19PM EST until November 9 at 7:00AM EST by NWS Jacksonville FL","text":"* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.\n\n* WHERE...Northeast Florida Beaches.\n\n* WHEN...Through Monday morning.\n\n* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away\nfrom shore into deeper water.","instruction":"Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and\nfloat. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a\ndirection following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the\nshore and call or wave for help.","url":"https://alerts.weather.gov/search?id=urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.3393e752c2bbd40f312a8648cdebbd2580dfad24.001.1","starts":"2026-11-08T13:19:00-05:00","ends":"2026-11-09T07:00:00-05:00","id":"nws-urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.3393e752c2bbd40f312a8648cdebbd2580dfad24.001.1"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/castillo-de-san-marcos-national-monument/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/castillo-de-san-marcos-national-monument.geojson"}