Fortifications 1565–1763
During Florida’s colonial period, forts usually were located with settlements and served as refuges for the inhabitants in times of attack. They also represented the will of a country to defend its claim to the land. The histories of the region’s forts help to illustrate the dynamic rivalries among European countries that struggled to control Florida.
Forts generally were made of logs, boards, and earth. However, wooden forts could be burned, and forces of nature, including rot, termites, and hurricanes, damaged or destroyed them over time. In St. Augustine, builders turned to coquina to create a lasting fortress.
