# 82 Pirates and Fort

Saturday  November 9, 2019

We hopped off the trolley by the Pirate Museum and began to tour. 

The Pirate museum called to us and we entered to explore the Golden Age of Piracy beginning with Port Royal.  The museum claims to have the largest collection of authentic pirate artifacts dating back to the 10^th century.  It has one of the three original Jolly Roger flags and an authentic pirate treasure chest. A display on navigation at the time starts the experience.  Then a display of firearms comes next.

Sometimes we forget that Sir Francis Drake was a pirate. Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of a pirate siege from Market Street that shows it was part of Drake’s raids.

This room is called the Rogues Tavern and introduces several pirates. This diorama speaks to the fact that these two pirates probably never met, but legends of the two have been told.

Games of chance helped entertain the sailors at sea.  This section of the museum was to look like a pub.   It also included video boards where guests could interact on a pirate mission of they wanted.

The next room resembled a ship’s deck.   A compass from the 17^th century.

The ship’s bell was part of an exhibit on telling time.

This interactive exhibit let you learn how to tie a variety of knots needed for sailing.  Derrille did very well with his knot tying ability.

The captain stands over some cargo crates that should smell like what they carry.  However, my incredible sense of smell didn’t pick up much.  Maybe the scents need refreshing.

On the Gun Deck you get to fire the cannons. You touch the stick to the top of the gun and it goes KA-BAM! Very Noisy!   I enjoyed firing the cannons several times!

The door at the back leads you into a windowless room where you put on a headset and experience being below decks.

Several pirate’s bios were highlighted.

When I came around the corner and Blackbeard's head began speaking it gave me a little bit of a chill.

The captain’s cabin held interesting things.  The authentic Jolly Roger flag, the spyglass and rosary, and the captain in his bunk.

The captain could be seen breathing, as his chest rose and fell. Just a tad spooky.

I found it interesting to discover that life aboard a pirate ship was democratic.  A strict code of conduct was enforced.

The next section Shipwreck Island showed pirate artifacts.

More recovered treasure pieces.

An authentic Pirate’s Chest.....so they say.

The last room held movie poster and things of pirate movies.

Capt. Jack Sparrow’s sword.

What a fun museum!

After lunch and a stroll down St. George Street we headed to the fort.

Castillo de San Marcos had ground broken for its construction in 1672 but wasn’t completed until 1695.  It stayed under Spanish rule until 1763 when the Peace of Paris gives Florida to Great Britain.  After the Revolutionary War, the United States returned Florida to Spain. 1821 Spain cedes Florida of the United States.  In 1935 the National Park Service took over administration of Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas south of St. Augustine.

The entry moves over the grass moat. During sieges the mote held domestic animals. The moat could be flooded by opening a gate on the seawall. 

Originally the heave grated gate could also be protected by a system of two drawbridges.

St. Augustine’s was considered a garrison town or presidio. No one lived in the fort, they just came to stand guard, usually for 24 hours.  So they slept and prepared their meals in these rooms.

Views from the top of the fort looking back toward old town and out to sea.

Looking down into the fort.

This represents an excellent look at coquina wall material.

We started our tour on top of the fort.  We happened to arrive in time to see a cannon firing demonstration.

Weapons on the gun deck.

The design of the fort added to its ability to defend. The star shape allowed a battery of cannons to create interlocking fields of fire.

This volunteer gave us information about the tools needed to fire the cannon.

This cannon shows the detail used to put the crest of arms on it.

Other costumed interpreters were a trove of information.

The rooms on the main floor of the fort held a variety of displays.  Some were used for storage rooms.

One showed close quarters for four soldiers. The white boards form a bunk bed for four.

The church held an important part of the fort lifestyle. The remains of the church area were interesting to me. The holy water font still has parts of it in the wall.   Examples showed uses for services and schooling.

Here is artist’s portrayal of how the church could have looked.

Several people were honored throughout the rooms as the story of the fort unfolded.  Father Lopez e Mendoza Grajales we know said the first Mass in St. Augustine. Some tell stories of Indians, military, powerful women, etc.

Others rooms talked about construction of the fort, restoration and other historically significant events regarding the fort and St. Augustine.

We had an enjoyable visit to the fort. Tomorrow Anastasia Island, just across the bridge.