Tourists flock to St. Augustine, Florida, to stroll along cobblestone streets lined with Spanish moss and enjoy time by the sea. They may not be searching for ghosts when they arrive; but more than a few leave St. Augustine with tales of the unexplained.
St. Augustine is Oldest American City
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously settled city established by Europeans in the United States. It was founded by the Spanish in 1565. In fact, the first Christian worship service held in a permanent settlement in the continental United States was a Catholic Mass celebrated in St. Augustine.
St. Augustine is also considered to be one of the most haunted places in America. Locals and visitors alike have reportedly experienced a wide range of unexplained phenomenon, captured amazing pictures of apparitions, and have caught a few unexplained images on video.
Construction of Castillo de San Marcos
The grand structure was built to protect the city. The first stone was laid in 1672. The fort features distinct architecture. This immense structure took a full 23 years to build, with completion in 1695.
The fort was carefully composed of coquina, which is a native limestone. Various types of sea shells and even bits and pieces of coral are included in the limestone.
Castillo de San Marcos served as a battleground several times. Many foreign invaders tried to overtake the fort, but none succeeded. Roughly 300 years of battles, violent storms, and hurricanes have not shaken the fort.
Is the St. Augustine Fort Haunted?
Castillo de San Marcos is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in the entire city. For ghost hunters, a visit to the old fort is a must.
In the watch tower closest to the road, it is said that a light ignites on stormy nights. Residents and locals that are familiar with the fort often overlook this unexplained phenomenon, but for the avid ghost hunter, seeing this makes for a remarkable experience.
Tales of the Unexplained
It is not unusual for people to report seeing a solider who is lavishly dressed in clothing that represents the era of the Spanish control looking out at sea. This apparition is normally seen when the sun is just starting to rise, or when the sun is setting.
Another ghostly story claims that an officer at the Fort caught his wife cheating on him. He put both the wife and her lover in the dungeon, shackled and chained. Then he bricked up the dungeon so the two could never escape. Although nothing was recorded historically of this, in the 1830s, an engineer had the wall removed and found two skeletons shackled in the room.
Many tourists have experienced strange sensations in the dungeon, including goose bumps, breezes, the feeling of being touched, and many individuals have even experienced physical sickness for no apparent reason.
When visiting Castillo de San Marcos it’s always a good idea to bring a camera. It is not uncommon for people to capture pictures of strange lights, orbs, spheres, and even unexplained apparitions composed of strange mists.
Sources:
Explore Southern History.com, “Castillo de San Marcos,” Accessed on June 25, 2010.
Squidoo.com, “Do Ghosts Haunt the Oldest City in the United States?” Accessed on June 25, 2010.
Joy Richardson - Joy Richardson has worked as a reporter, photographer, and editor for several local newspapers in the Atlanta area. Her articles have been ...
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