This National Monument commemorates the killing of nearly 250 French Huguenots by the Spanish, an act that gave the river and inlet the name Matanzas, Spanish for "slaughters." Spanish officials built a fort at the site 175 years later to help protect the southern sea entrance to St. Augustine from a new threat-the British. A ferry takes visitors to the fort and the visitor center is accessible from Highway A1A.

Information provided by Florida Department of State.