Want to visit the places where American patriots helped win the Revolutionary War?
There’s nothing in Florida.
In the 1770s, most people in what is now Florida supported the British.
But as our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Sunshine State is home to several Revolutionary War relics, including a stone fort that worried George Washington. and the creek where British supporters pushed back the Georgia Patriots and where the British ultimately lost Florida to Spain.
Castillo San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine
The oldest masonry fortress in the continental United States is located not far from the Atlantic Ocean. The Spanish army completed the stone fortress of Coquina in 1695 on the site of an earlier wooden fort. When Florida was granted to Britain in 1763 by the Treaty of Paris, St. Augustine became the capital of East Florida and a haven for British supporters from other colonies.
The British renamed the fortress St. Mark’s. During the Revolutionary War, General Washington became concerned that the British were stockpiling weapons and ammunition in forts and preparing to attack the northern colonies. The British were imprisoning patriot prisoners in a fort.
A National Park Service monument, the fort is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can walk along the diamond-shaped fortress, admire its moat, and admire artifacts from more than four centuries. Admission is $15 for adults, but is free from July 3rd to 5th.
Governor’s House Cultural Center & Museum, St. Augustine
This 1598 building overlooks a downtown square and served as the headquarters for Spanish and British leaders.
When news of the Declaration of Independence reached St. Augustine in August 1776, mobs spilled into the streets and burned effigies of John Hancock and Sam Adams.
The historic building is now owned by the University of Florida and is open to the public free of charge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. To celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, a new exhibit will be installed indoors that trace East Florida’s role in the Revolutionary War.
Thomas Creek Battlefield, Jacksonville
On May 17, 1777, a group of British soldiers, Loyalist militia, and Native Americans ambushed the Georgia Patriots near the mouth of Thomas Creek near present-day Jacksonville Airport. In this battle, the southernmost battle of the Revolutionary War, they captured more than 30 prisoners and forced the Patriots to retreat.
Visitors to Thomas Creek Preserve can hike the trails surrounding the ambush site and learn more from interpretive signs. You can also have a picnic, go fishing, or launch your boat.
Fort George, Pensacola
Named after King George III, this fort was built by the British in 1778 to protect West Florida from Spain. This was the largest of the three forts on Gage Hill and was surrounded by a dry moat. On May 8, 1781, Spanish troops stormed the fort during the siege of Pensacola and renamed it Fort San Miguel. This marked a turning point in the American Revolution, as the British army was forced to divert its attention from fighting in the northern colonies.
However, the Spanish army never captured the fort, and over the years it deteriorated. To celebrate the United States’ bicentennial, archaeologists explored the fort and discovered a powder magazine and a room that may have been a toilet. Parts of the building have been rebuilt, and visitors can take self-guided tours for free at any time of the day.
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