Map Search    Florida Department of State « Previous    Visit a Coastal Fort Battery San Antonio British Fort of Pensacola Castillo de San Marcos East Martello Battery Fort Barrancas Fort Brooke Fort Caroline Fort Clinch Fort Dade Fort Dallas Fort de Soto Fort George Fort Jefferson Fort Lauderdale Fort Matanzas Fort McRee Fort Mose Fort Myers Fort Pickens Fort Pierce Fort San Marcos de Apalache Fort Taylor West Martello Tower ->Maritime Trail Home ->Forts Home    Next » Fort Caroline Photo courtesy of the Florida Division of Historical Resources.     This wooden fort was built on the bank of the St. Johns River by the French Huguenot Jean Ribault in 1564 to protect his claim to Florida. After being captured by the Spanish Admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés for Spain in 1565, it was renamed San Mateo and remaining French women and children were transported to Puerto Rico. The fort burned shortly afterwards, destroying desperately needed provisions. Although rebuilt, nothing remains of the original fort today. An interpretive reconstruction demonstrates how the original fort must have looked in the 16th century. Find out more: General Information: Open daily, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; closed December 25. Free admission. Visitor Center, exhibits, nature preserve, hiking trails. Fort Caroline National Memorial/Timucuan Preserve, 12713 Ft. Caroline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225, (904) 641-7155. Additional Links: National Park Service National Park Service (map) View more pictures of Fort Caroline View a map of Fort Caroline Communities | Environments | Forts | Lighthouses | Ports | Shipwrecks | Home The Florida Maritime Heritage Trail was created and is maintained by the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, with initial funding by Florida Coastal Management Program. Send comments to: [email protected]