A Day at the Castillo de San Marcos: Fun and History for All Ages

The courtyard was once the fort’s parade ground, where soldiers came together for drills, inspections and announcements. It was the center of life inside the walls, surrounded by the casemates and open to the sky. Supplies were sometimes gathered here, and troops formed ranks before marching out or taking positions along the walls. Today, the space sometimes comes alive during musket and cannon demonstrations. Costumed interpreters show how the weapons were loaded and fired, just as soldiers would have done here centuries ago. The sharp sound of a musket and the deep boom of a cannon bounce off the stone walls, and the smell of gunpowder lingers in the air. These events help visitors understand not just how the fort looked but how it sounded and felt during its active years. It’s easy to picture soldiers moving through the open space, calling out commands and following their daily routines. Children are often drawn to these moments, watching closely as history plays out in front of them and asking questions about the life of a soldier in St. Augustine’s past.

Walking through the Castillo de San Marcos takes you into the casemates, the arched rooms built into the thick coquina walls. These rooms once held soldiers, stored gunpowder and kept prisoners waiting to be moved. In times of siege, they provided protection from enemy fire and a place to store the supplies needed to withstand long periods of isolation. Today, the rooms display exhibits that explain how the fort was built, the battles it faced and the people connected to its history. Some rooms also feature artifacts recovered from the area, including weapons, tools and personal belongings that help tell the story of daily life here. Stone stairs lead up to the gun deck, where the view opens over Matanzas Bay, the rooftops of St. Augustine and the curve of the coastline. The sight lines from this position made it possible to track ships from a great distance and prepare for their arrival. Standing here shows why the Spanish built the fort in this location. The height gave them a clear view of the harbor and plenty of time to prepare if ships appeared in the distance, making it one of the most strategic defensive points in Florida.

The Castillo de San Marcos is best known for its centuries of military history, but it’s also a place where ghost stories have become part of its identity. Visitors have shared accounts of strange sights, unexplained sounds and moments that seem to defy explanation.

One of the most well-known tales is that of Seminole leader Osceola. After his death in custody at the fort, a physician is said to have removed his head and kept it as a macabre keepsake. Many believe his spirit still searches the grounds, moving through the shadows in a restless attempt to reclaim what was taken from him. People have described hearing faint footsteps in empty areas and catching glimpses of movement near the places where he was once held.

Another enduring legend tells of Dolores, the wife of a Spanish colonel, and her lover, Manuel. When their secret relationship was discovered, the colonel sealed them inside a hidden room, where they died. Their remains were uncovered many years later, and visitors have since reported catching the scent of Dolores’ perfume in that part of the fort, especially on warm, still afternoons when the air seems heavy and quiet. Visitors to St. Augustine can see a depiction of this tale at Potter’s Wax Museum.

The fort is also home to reports of the Shadow Man, a dark figure often spotted pacing along the walls or crossing the courtyard after sunset. His identity is unknown, though many believe he was a soldier still keeping watch long after his duty should have ended. Some have seen him pause at the edges of the bastions, as if scanning the horizon.

The Lady in Blue is another figure often mentioned. Believed to be Maria Mancilla, she has been seen wandering the fort as if searching for her husband. People who have encountered her often describe a sudden heavy sadness that lingers even after she disappears from view.

Other stories tell of phantom watchmen who appear in the watchtower or move silently across the grounds at night. Many believe these spirits belong to soldiers who refuse to abandon their posts, guarding the Castillo de San Marcos in death just as they did in life. Some visitors say they have felt an invisible presence walking alongside them as they explore the walls.

A visit to the Castillo de San Marcos lets you see history in the place where it happened. You can walk through the same gates soldiers once guarded, stand in the courtyard where drills took place, and step into the casemates that stored supplies and sheltered people during attacks. On the gun deck, you’ll get a wide view over Matanzas Bay and the city, the same vantage point defenders used to track approaching ships. As you explore, you’ll learn about the fort’s unique coquina stone construction, the sieges it endured, and the legends that have grown from its long history. By the time you leave, it’s easy to feel a connection to the stories held in its walls. The fort has stood for more than three centuries, surviving wars, changes in power and the passage of time, and seeing it in person is one of the best ways to understand why it remains such an important part of St. Augustine.

Visitors can also learn more about the Castillo on a Ghosts & Gravestones® Frightseeing® Tour. All the history and legends of the city come to life aboard a Trolley of Doomed. It’s a family-friendly way to experience the darker side of St. Augustine, from Castille de San Marcos and beyond.