Begun in 1672, the Casillo de San Marcos, replaced nine successive wooden structures that had protected St. Augustine since the settlement's founding in 1565. [St. Augustine is the oldest continously populated settlement in the U.S.] The Casillo is constructed of a unique sedimentary rock called Coquina. Coquina is made up of shells and limestone, which is mined from quarries, then dried for a couple of years. It is an excellent material for fortification because it's soft enough to absorb cannonballs and not fragment.
The Casillo is the oldest masonry fort and the best-preserved example of a Spanish colonial fortification in the U.S. It represented the northernmost outpost of Spain's New World empire. It guards a narrow inlet through the barrier islands, which is the only approach to St. Augustine by sea. The large cannons were capable of firing cannonballs up to 3 1/2 miles. The mortar could launch a very large projectile a mile and a half. In addition to the many cannon placements, the fort had a moat and an outer perimeter designed for infantrymen.
We watched a group of volunteers fire the small cannon (Picture 3). They jokingly complained that the Park Service no longer provided them with cannon balls, however! Unfortunately, there is no picture of the actual firing because everyone needed to cover their ears.
St. Augustine is perhaps the earliest example of community planning within the continental U.S. This is exemplified by regular and narrow streets, a pleasant central plaza, abundant open spaces, beautiful patios and gardens, impressive government and religious buildings, and comfortable homes. Our experience has been that good long-range municipal planning is an exception in the U. S.
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