Castillo a Reminder of Resilience

But with a little imagination and the help of a virtual tour technology, you can still learn and experience the story of the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine.

The Virtual Tour for the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in St. Augustine, Florida, was made possible by a collaborative research grant with the University of South Florida Libraries and the National Park Service. The tour includes exterior features from the City Gate to the seawall of the oldest masonry fort and the best-preserved example of a Spanish colonial fortification in the continental United States.

You can even explore the interior of the fort structure with room walk-throughs and 3D models throughout the fort as you follow along the guided trail. Head up the stairs to the upper gun deck and get the view from above, or spend time viewing the landscape and grounds.

Best part is virtual tours can be viewed on your desktop or mobile device, and are Virtual Reality (VR) compatible. 3D models also are enabled for augmented reality (AR) inspection using mobile devices. The National Parks Service is currently in the process of creating more 3D scans around Castillo de San Marcos so virtual visitors can come back again and again to check any new content.

Think of this an opportunity to plan your visit later this year. You and your family will already know what you want to see firsthand. Will it be the cannons on the deck? The turrets? Maybe one of the chambers or artifacts that caught your eye. Or maybe it’s just the commanding view of the Matanzas Bay. Either way, you’ll be well prepared to immerse yourself in this symbol of strength and resilience that has withstood so many challenges for over 3 centuries.

Link to virtual Castillo tour: https://www.nps.gov/casa/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm