Visitors tour Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

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Note:  The boats required for a tour of Fort Matanzas are always breaking down, so before heading to the fort, be sure to either call the park at (904) 471-0116 or check the National Park Service’s official Fort Matanzas National Monument website to see if tours are being held. If you can’t get to the fort, there is no point in visiting the park.

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Fort Matanzas lies on the opposite side of the Matanzas River from the Fort Matanzas National Monument Visitor Center, and it is thus necessary to take a shuttle boat to the fort. Tours are typically held Wednesdays through Mondays every hour starting at 9:30 AM, with the last tour at 3:30 PM. However, times can always change, so be sure to check the National Park Service’s Fort Matanzas Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the latest schedule.

National Park Service shuttle boat to Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

Tickets for the tour of Fort Matanzas are free but are required for everyone, even babies. They are issued on a first come, first served basis and are only given out for the next available tour. For example, you cannot arrive at 9 AM and request a ticket for the 1:30 PM tour unless all tickets for prior tours have been taken. The boat only holds 35 passengers, and tickets to most tours do sell out during the summer, including weekdays, so arrive early.

Tours can be cancelled if the weather looks bad, therefore it is advisable to visit Fort Matanzas, if possible, only on days that promise good weather. I was talking to a group who had been to the fort on three previous days, and the tours were cancelled on all three days. During one of my visits, I missed the 9:30 AM tour and had to wait until the 11:30 AM tour because threatening weather had cancelled the 10:30 AM tour. The 11:30 AM tour was held despite intermittent light rain.

The tour of Fort Matanzas lasts about 45 minutes, of which 30 minutes are spent at the fort. This is plenty of time to see the entire fort and read all the informational exhibits. The fort isn’t any bigger than a typical single-family home. The tour begins with a Ranger giving a brief overview of the fort’s history. After that, you are free to explore at your own pace. The Ranger is available to answer questions.

Ranger talks with visitors on the gun deck of Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

The fort is not accessible for wheelchairs. You must be able to walk up two sets of stairs to visit both levels of the fort, plus a ladder if you wish to access the roof area.

Steps to top level of the Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

From the ground, walk up the first flight of stairs to the main deck of the fort. Here you will find cannons and the Enlisted Men’s Quarters, which is furnished as it might have been at the time of use. There are also a couple of informational exhibits on display.

Enlisted Men’s quarters on the main deck of Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

Gun deck of Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

There are two authentic cannon that are supposedly original to the fort and two replica cannon on display. The replicas are used for firing demonstrations (select weekends only). The original cannons would be unsafe to fire. To tell the difference between the two, the original cannon have very rough barrels due to rusting over the centuries, whereas the replicas have smooth barrels.

Authentic 18th century cannon on display at Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

Replica cannon on display at Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

A flight up some more stairs leads to the Officer’s Quarters and a general storage area, again furnished according to the time period. There is also a small door in the wall that provided access to the gunpowder magazine. A soldier had to climb inside and then down a ladder to the small powder kegs below, all in the dark since he could not bring a lighted torch or candle for fear of setting off an explosion. He then had to climb up the ladder with a keg in hand and pass it through the entrance to other soldiers in the room.

Officer’s Quarters on the second floor of Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

Storage area and gunpowder magazine access on the second floor of Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

The second level also provides access to the roof of Fort Matanzas, and visitors are welcome to climb the steep ladder to the top. It is from the roof that you will understand why the fort was built where it was—unobstructed views in all directions. The hole in the roof is very small; large people may not make it through, nor will anyone with backpacks (leave them in the Officer’s Quarters).

Hole to climb through to access the roof of Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

Roof of Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

View towards St. Augustine from the roof of Fort Matanzas, Fort Matanzas National Monument

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