Scotts Bluff National Monument – Nebraska
You might think Nebraska is completely flat and full of cornfields like the fictional town Gatlin, Nebraska from Steven King's movie "Children of the Corn." Well, think again. Western Nebraska…
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument – St. Augustine, FL
In a previous post, I described touring Fort Matanzas, which protected St. Augustine’s back door. However, no visit to St. Augustine is complete without touring Castillo de San Marcos. Built over 450 years ago by the Spaniards, the Castillo is the oldest stone fortification in the US.
The Spanish Period
The 20-acre fort, with 30-foot high coquina walls, fronts Matanzas Bay just north of St. Augustine’s city center. Although Pedro Menendez de Aviles founded the city in 1565, construction didn’t begin until over a century later in 1672. Fortunately, construction finished just in time to protect the city from future attacks.
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Fort Matanzas National Monument – St. Augustine, FL
Castillo de San Marcos in the historic part of St. Augustine remains a top tourist spot. However, many don’t know about St. Augustine’s other fort, sometimes called the “back door of St. Augustine,” Fort Matanzas.
For starters, Fort Matanzas is harder to reach. Located about fifteen miles south of St. Augustine on Anastasia Island, visitors must take a five-minute ferry ride to see the coquina watchtower. Purchasing tickets online isn’t an option either as the National Park Service distributes them on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, with fewer tourists, a visit to Fort Matanzas provides an enjoyable experience.
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Andersonville National Historic Site – Andersonville, GA
It’s snowing outside today – rare for Georgia. Nevertheless, as I’m inside enjoying the roaring fire and sipping hot tea, I’m thankful for a shelter from the elements today. Imagine living outside in rain, sun, snow, and sleet – and not just for a few minutes, but days and months? That’s exactly what Union prisoners at Andersonville experienced during the Civil War.
A few months ago, Thing 1 and I went to Andersonville National Historic Site about 120 miles south of Atlanta. Run by the National Park Service, the entire site is free of charge and consists of three sections – the military prison, the cemetery, and the POW museum.
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