The
Castillo is made of a stone called
"coquina", literally "little
shells". This is what the stone
is made of, ancient shells that have
bonded together to form a type of
stone, similar to limestone. Workers
were brought in from Havana, Cuba
to construct the fort. The coquina
was quarried from Anastasia Island
across the bay from the Castillo,
and ferried across to the construction
site. Construction lasted twenty-three
years, being completed in 1695. In
1670, Charles Town (modern-day Charleston,
South Carolina) was founded by the
British. Being just two days sail
from St. Augustine, this was one of
the events that spurred the fort's
construction. In November 1702, forces
under orders from Governor James Moore
of Charles Town, set sail from Carolina
in an attempt to capture the city.
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