Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in St. Augustine, Florida, preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States. Built by the Spanish between 1672 and 1695 using coquina — a local limestone formed from compressed shells — the fort was designed to protect Spain's claim to La Florida and the sea route of treasure ships returning to Europe. The fortress withstood multiple sieges, including British attacks in 1702 and 1740, and changed hands between Spain, Great Britain, the Confederate States, and the United States over its 300-year history. It was also used to imprison Native Americans, including members of the Seminole, Apache, Cheyenne, and other nations during the 19th century.
📚 Learn More at NPSHistory.com →Long before Castillo de San Marcos National Monument became a national park, this land was home to Indigenous peoples whose connection to it spans thousands of years. The interpretive materials now being reviewed tell their story — often developed through years of formal tribal consultation, as required by federal law.
From the internal review records: “The attached brochure was developed through a partnership with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The park has worked through consultations with this federally-recognized tribe about how to tell a complete history, including tribal perspectives, on the 1875-1878 imprisonment of Plains Tribes warriors and leaders. Note that the text of this brochure was written by our tribal partners to share that p...”
Why this matters: The Indigenous history presented at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument was developed through formal tribal consultation — a legal requirement under federal law. The language being reviewed was often specifically requested by tribal nations whose ancestors lived on this land for thousands of years. Revising it without renewed consultation would violate both the spirit and the letter of that process.
The attached brochure was developed through a partnership with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The park has worked through consultations with this federally-recognized tribe about how to tell a complete history, including tribal perspectives, on the 1875-1878 imprisonment of Plains Tribes warriors and leaders. Note that the text of this brochure was written by our tribal partners to share that perspective of Fort Marion (Castillo de San Marcos) history.
Long before Castillo de San Marcos National Monument became a national park, this land was home to Indigenous peoples whose connection to it spans thousands of years. The interpretive materials now being reviewed tell their story — often developed through years of formal tribal consultation, as required by federal law.
From the internal review records: “Text panel discussing imprisonment of Plains Tribes (Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Comanche, and Caddo) imprisonment at Castillo de San Marcos (Fort Marion). Text of panel needs review for language referring to tribes having choice of extinction or assimilation. Language of U.S. Government giving the "choice" of extinction could be considered negative towards the United States.”
Why this matters: The Indigenous history presented at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument was developed through formal tribal consultation — a legal requirement under federal law. The language being reviewed was often specifically requested by tribal nations whose ancestors lived on this land for thousands of years. Revising it without renewed consultation would violate both the spirit and the letter of that process.
Text panel discussing imprisonment of Plains Tribes (Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Comanche, and Caddo) imprisonment at Castillo de San Marcos (Fort Marion). Text of panel needs review for language referring to tribes having choice of extinction or assimilation. Language of U.S. Government giving the “choice” of extinction could be considered negative towards the United States.
Long before Castillo de San Marcos National Monument became a national park, this land was home to Indigenous peoples whose connection to it spans thousands of years. The interpretive materials now being reviewed tell their story — often developed through years of formal tribal consultation, as required by federal law.
From the internal review records: “For review. Existing exhibits present two opposing perspectives of the U.S. imprisonment of Plains Tribes chiefs and warriors at Castillo de San Marcos (Fort Marion) in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1975-1978. Tribes included the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Comanche, and Caddo Tribes. The Captain Pratt exhibit represents the U.S. Military perspective of assimilation as the best and only true option fo...”
Why this matters: The Indigenous history presented at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument was developed through formal tribal consultation — a legal requirement under federal law. The language being reviewed was often specifically requested by tribal nations whose ancestors lived on this land for thousands of years. Revising it without renewed consultation would violate both the spirit and the letter of that process.
For review. Existing exhibits present two opposing perspectives of the U.S. imprisonment of Plains Tribes chiefs and warriors at Castillo de San Marcos (Fort Marion) in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1975-1978. Tribes included the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Comanche, and Caddo Tribes. The Captain Pratt exhibit represents the U.S. Military perspective of assimilation as the best and only true option for Tribes to survive. The Chief Heap of Birds exhibit, developed through official consultation with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, represents the Tribe's perspective and impacts of the imprisonment. By having both of these exhibits together, visitors are provided with information that tells a more complex, more complete picture of history so they are free to make their own determination/understanding of the history of this fort.
Long before Castillo de San Marcos National Monument became a national park, this land was home to Indigenous peoples whose connection to it spans thousands of years. The interpretive materials now being reviewed tell their story — often developed through years of formal tribal consultation, as required by federal law.
From the internal review records: “Review Requested: This sign at Castillo de San Marcos was developed in collaboration with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The QR code leads to oral histories provided by the tribe that represent the perspective of the people decended from the Fort Marion prisoners. This sign works in collaboration with the Chief Heap of Birds and Captain Pratt exhibits in the same exhibit space.”
Why this matters: The Indigenous history presented at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument was developed through formal tribal consultation — a legal requirement under federal law. The language being reviewed was often specifically requested by tribal nations whose ancestors lived on this land for thousands of years. Revising it without renewed consultation would violate both the spirit and the letter of that process.
Review Requested: This sign at Castillo de San Marcos was developed in collaboration with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The QR code leads to oral histories provided by the tribe that represent the perspective of the people decended from the Fort Marion prisoners. This sign works in collaboration with the Chief Heap of Birds and Captain Pratt exhibits in the same exhibit space.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in FL preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The exhibit panels at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “Patriot War”, and “stage a revolt, capture Fernandina, and march on St. Augustine. The rebelion collapses when Seminoles join forces with the Spanish authorities.”.
Why this matters: The specific language being targeted at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument — including “Patriot War” — is historically accurate content developed by professional historians and park staff. When this language is revised or removed, visitors lose access to the documented record of what happened here.
Review Requested: “Patriot War” reference in exhibit. In 1812 while Florida was still Spanish territory, eager United States citizens developed a plot to invade and capture Florida, to make it part of the United States. Exhibit (part of a timeline) reads: 1812 - Americans living in Georgia and Spanish Florida plot to add the territory to the United States. These self-styled “Patriots” stage a revolt, capture Fernandina, and march on St. Augustine. The rebelion collapses when Seminoles join forces with the Spanish authorities." Please review to determine if this falls into a category of painting the United States in a less than poisitive light.
Long before Castillo de San Marcos National Monument became a national park, this land was home to Indigenous peoples whose connection to it spans thousands of years. The interpretive materials now being reviewed tell their story — often developed through years of formal tribal consultation, as required by federal law.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “shockingly lateratification of the 19th amendment guaranteeing women's suffrage.”, “history book for kids.”, “...and how Tecumseh inspired warriors to protect their communities from white American hostility.”, and “Florida's growing populations of unregulated blacks and geopolitical intrigues involving Spain, Britain, and France.”.
Why this matters: The Indigenous history presented at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument was developed through formal tribal consultation — a legal requirement under federal law. The language being reviewed was often specifically requested by tribal nations whose ancestors lived on this land for thousands of years. Revising it without renewed consultation would violate both the spirit and the letter of that process.
The following Eastern National Sales Items are presented for further review. Items include: -Civil Rights in Florida: Back cover comments on the "shockingly lateratification of the 19th amendment guaranteeing women's suffrage." Civil Rights has played a significant role in St. Augustine history, including peaceful gathering on the grounds of Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. -Fort Marion Prisoners and the Trauma of Native Education: The imprisonnment of Plains Tribes chiefs and warriors in the Castillo from 1875-1878 directly tied to the invention of the off-reservation boarding s...
- The Other War of 1812: This book focuses on the failed attempt by U.S. settlers from to attack the boarderlands between U.S. Georgia and Spanish Florida, focusing on American motivations for the attacks such as "Florida's growing populations of unregulated blacks and geopolitical intrigues involving Spain, Britain, and France."
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in FL is one of hundreds of National Park Service sites where interpretive content has been flagged under Secretary's Order 3431. This directive requires parks to review materials that could be considered negative about past or living Americans — a standard that threatens the factual historical record these sites were created to preserve.
Why this matters: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is one of 466+ National Park Service sites where historically accurate interpretive content has been flagged under Secretary's Order 3431. Over 300 million people visit national parks each year. For many — especially schoolchildren — these visits are their first and deepest encounter with American history.
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