Rather than being abandoned, however, the site entered a new phase as a historical monument. Preservationists recognized its unique architecture and long history. In 1924, Fort Marion was designated a national monument by President Calvin Coolidge.
In 1942, Congress restored its original Spanish name, Castillo de San Marcos, acknowledging its colonial heritage and importance to Hispanic-American history.
Architecture and Symbolism
Castillo de San Marcos remains an outstanding example of seventeenth-century military architecture adapted to the New World. Its bastion design, coquina walls, and symmetrical layout reflect European principles of fortification, but its endurance reflects adaptation to Florida’s environment.
The structure also symbolizes the intersection of cultures. Built with Native labor, staffed by Spanish soldiers, and contested by European rivals, the Castillo embodies the entangled histories of empire, colonialism, and resistance. Its later use as a prison adds further layers to its symbolic meaning, representing both oppression and resilience. shutdown123