Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is nationally significant because it features the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States. Between 1692 and 1900, the armies of three nations occupied it: Spain, Great Britain, and the United States. Fort Matanzas National Monument was established to preserve and interpret a small fortified Spanish watchtower 14 miles down the Matanzas River from Castillo de San Marcos.
Scope
We worked with National Park Service staff to create 43 new waysides located on the grounds of both parks. The waysides provide orientation information and convey interpretive stories about the cultural and natural history of this coastal site. Our planning and design team provided site analysis, research, graphic design, text writing, illustrations, maps, image acquisition, tactile design, and coordination for language translation, audio script development, and wayside fabrication.
Outcome
The waysides provide visitors with better orientation throughout both sites. During a self-guided tour around the Castillo, visitors learn about the fort’s construction, defenses, and history, and current challenges for preservation. At Fort Matanzas, visitors discover the animals and habitats of the coastal maritime forest.
