Confronting historical narratives at the Castillo de San Marcos, Saint Augustine, Florida

Abstract

Recent research on intangible cultural heritage and the politics of contested sites of memory show that the emotional dimensions of historic places change over time and influence what visitors experience. These dimensions also influence interpretive strategies and historical narratives within sites that are public tourist destinations. In this regard, the Castillo de San Marcos in Saint Augustine, Florida posits significant challenges. As a national monument situated in a scenic, sea-side town, it is a symbol of Spanish Florida and part of the National Park Service (NPS). Conveyed as the place where ‘America begins,’ the lesser-known history is that, when operated under the United States military as Fort Marion (1825–1924), it was the site of three periods of Native American incarceration and the foundation of an educational system for forced assimilation. Within this context, this essay focuses on three questions: How does a governmental entity such as the NPS present complicated histories experienced at tourism sites? In what ways can the Castillo become a place that goes beyond Native American existence or disappearance to present complex narratives of survival and active resistance? And, to what extent can tourism sites become agents of change to confront settler colonialism through centering new voices? Through the concept of survivance and centering Indigenous perspectives and voices, national parks can broaden interpretations and create more complex narratives of history.