Fort Matanzas National Monument Visitor Center
OPERATING HOURS
Fort Matanzas National Monument Visitor Center is open from 9 AM to 5:30 PM every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Times can always change, so be sure to check the National Park Service’s official Fort Matanzas Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the latest schedule.
AMENITIES
- Ranger-staffed information desk where you can pick up a park brochure
- Get free tickets for the ferry to Fort Matanzas
- Park film
- Gift and book store
- Restrooms
PARK FILM
Adjacent to the main room of the Visitor Center is a small theater that shows an eight-minute film about Fort Matanzas. The film is shown upon request. If it is currently running, just wait for that show to finish and then the park Ranger will start it again for you and your group. While interesting, the film is not vital to watch before touring the actual fort. If you arrive and can immediately get a ticket for a tour that is just about to leave, do so and watch the movie afterward. The park Ranger will explain the fort’s history during the tour, and most of this is the same as in the film. It is recommended to watch the film at some point, as it has maps, illustrations, and even archival photos of the fort before it was renovated. It also talks about how Matanzas Inlet got its name from a violent event that dates nearly 200 years prior to the existence of Fort Matanzas.
SCHEDULING YOUR TIME
There is no museum at Fort Matanzas National Monument, so all there is to do at the Visitor Center is watch the film and get a ticket for the boat to the fort. Fifteen minutes should be enough.
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Last updated on April 17, 2022
