The Old Fort Never Gets Old

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How many times have I been to Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, colloquially known as “the Old Fort”? I have lost track. I can guarantee you, though, that going there never gets old. The Old Fort was built beginning in 1672 by the Spanish. Over the generations it was a military base for Spanish, British, American, and Confederate troops. As old as it is, it was only decommissioned in 1933. Why do I love this place so much? It’s pretty cool to walk in something over 350 years old! And, like today, there were park rangers and volunteers dressed as Spanish soldiers, posing for photos with wide-eyed kids and old women (sometime one and the same ) and giving a tiny demonstration of a cannon firing (which is the photo). The explained that the boom was only about 6-8 ounces of gunpowder, whereas the cannon fired during battle would have about twelve pounds of gunpowder to launch a 22-pound cannonball toward an approaching enemy ship. And yes, it was loud, even at 6-8 ounces! It was a very interesting presentation. The commands were given in Spanish, complete with a prayer before starting the activity. (I really appreciate the authenticity they put into these reenactments!) After the firing, they cleaned and secured the cannon…then you could go see the weapon that had just hurt your ears “up close and personal”! I guess it’s visiting places like that cause me to appreciate the things I have, like electricity and indoor plumbing (you know, in all the forts I’ve toured, I’ve only seen ONE that had a “built privy” facility). It’s also a testament to the ingenuity of people over three centuries ago. The photo is the cannon firing ceremony today.