Thursday, April 21, 2016

April 22, 2016



Ripley’s Believe It or Not!


You'll find many strange and interesting things at Ripley’s Believe It or Not without even entering the museum. Here we see an anchor, which isn’t particularly fascinating, but the story of its former resting place is . . . check out the “Massacre Anchor” sign. In previous posts I’ve explained how important the story of the 1565 Huguenot massacre is to me, so it’s nice to see a reference that lots of folks passing through St. Augustine will see. (I do wonder how old the anchor is, though, and it’s story. Probably quite interesting as well). The sign reads, "Matanzas means massacre in Spanish. This anchor was pulled from the depths of Matanzas Bay where people were slaughtered in 1565. This marks a true tragedy in St. Augustine & U.S. history."

Fort Mosé


Fort Mosé (both the visitor center/museum and the boardwalk seen here) is one of St. Augustine’s hidden historical gems. The park pays tribute to the city’s African-American residents, tells their story, and allows visitors to look across the marsh toward the site of the original Fort Mosé. Sadly there’s nothing left of it, but I believe the museum is raising funds to rebuild a portion of wall to give folks a better idea of how things looked. Whether you have African heritage or are just interested in history, this is a cool little place with lots to see. On the boardwalk you'll have the opportunity to encounter many different kinds of wildlife, including the sea turtle I observed on my most recent trip. Watch out for snakes and alligators . . .


(c) 2015-2016 St. Augustine Fridays

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