Fort Matanzas National Monument is located along River Matanzas in Florida.

This National Monument is known for the famous Fort Matanzas, a 1740 Spanish fort, and the acres of salt marsh and barrier islands. The fort is built of the Coquina, stone that is formed of shells. Matanzas, which means ‘slaughters’ in Spanish, commemorates the site where about 250 French Huguenots were assassinated by the Spanish.

There are many places in this region that are worth visiting. The Coastal Hammock Forest houses several varieties of plants and animals. The Ocean Beach and Dunes is home to many endangered species of plants and animals like the Anastasia Island Beach Mouse, Atlantic Ghost Crab and Least Terns. Other places that should be visited while at the Fort Matanzas National Monument are the Estuary and Salt Marsh and the Scrub.