The Mystery of Florida’s Cannonball-Eating Spanish Fort

In 1702, when the Spanish still ruled Florida, an English fleet from colonial Carolina approached Castillo de San Marcos, a Spanish stronghold on the Atlantic shore.

The fort guarded the Spanish empire s trade routes as well as the surrounding city of St. Augustine, and the English wanted to run this politically and economically important outpost for themselves. Led by Carolina s governor James Moore, the English boats dropped their anchors and laid siege.

But even after nearly two months of being shelled with cannonballs and gunfire, the fort s walls wouldn t give. In fact, they appeared to be swallowing the British cannonballs, which then became embedded within the stone. Precisely how the walls did this remained a mystery for the next three centuries.

via getpocket.com

Cool story.