Category: City Of St. Augustine

10/17/2025 0 Comments

535) Day 17 - Castillo de San Marcos is closed during the federal government shutdown - St. Augustine, Florida

As we finish off day seventeen of the United States government being closed for business...

The Castillo de San Marcos in historic downtown St. Augustine, Florida continues to remain closed during the current federal government shutdown.

Recently, I went to the Castillo and did a YouTube livestream from the St. Augustine Inlet waterfront, near the fort area on Wednesday, October 8th (linked below). And, honestly, it was such a strange sight to see such a familiar and iconic place all closed up.

Normally, when I livestream the sunrise in St. Augustine, I always take note that the Castillo wakes up as early as I do. When you rise earlier than dawn, it's very easy to see who else is awake with you.

Workers arrive early, checking out the grounds and tending to the property. I'm watching the sunrise, and I hear the lawnmower already operating. I wave hello to the sun, and I see National Park Service employees diligently going about their work day. By the time I finish my sunrise livestream, it's usually almost time for the Castillo to open up to the public for the day, and the parking lots are filling up fast.

And just as quickly as the parking lots reach capacity, the line for tickets into the Castillo grows. Everyone wants to see the fort when they visit this lovely town.

I see the NPS workers communicating with and educating the public about the Castillo, as well as all the NPS workers who keep the Castillo alive physically. I can only imagine how much work and continual maintenance is required, with ocean waters splashing against it no less, to keep this amazing piece of history alive for future generations to see and learn from.

Just last month, I saw a worker patching up pieces of one of the barrier walls with what I can assume was some sort of masonry or brickwork/stonework tools. It was background noise to me - (peaceful) background noise - as I watched the sun rise above Anastasia Island. I always love to see the fort being worked on and cared for. In fact, In another life, I'd love to be a National Park Service employee. That list of dream jobs remains a mile long, including wanting to be a meteorologist, but I can dream nonetheless.

The Castillo is well taken care of every time I'm there. Visitors love the Castillo, and the National Park Service employees love the Castillo. It always seems to me that the general public, as well as all the fort caretakers, very sincerely love the Castillo, and care for the well being and survival of this historic fort, for the historical significance, and educational aspects the fort provides.

I have been live-streaming from downtown St. Augustine for a few years now, coming here regularly - once a month to stream from this very historic city. St. Augustine is one of my favorite places in the world, and I do believe the town is such a special treasure to The Sunshine State.

As I sit here planning out my schedule for next month's livestreams, it has already crossed my mind that I'm preparing to livestream from St. Augustine once again - very soon. And it's a very strange feeling to me that the Castillo may still be closed in the next couple weeks.

I wonder when this shutdown will end? I wonder when the National Park Service employees will be able to get back to taking care of the Castillo. I wonder how much maintenance is now lacking, and how much imperative maintenance work is now being delayed at the fort. I can only imagine that it all adds up, and fast. Florida weather is harsh on any structure, but one that is hundreds of years old is simply a whole different ball game. And importantly, I wonder when the next batch of visitors will be able to cross through those gates once again?

I have no idea when the federal government will open up. As I write this, I imagine that the shutdown could end directly after I hit publish. Friday night - TGIF! And, just the same, I can imagine the shutdown continuing many, many more weeks, leading into some far off date that no one can possibly even comprehend.

At 44 years of age, it feels like I've now lived through many government shut downs. And it seems that we always tend to figure things out and get moving once again. But during it - in the moment - it always feels so ominous...

I have no answers - but I do know one thing. I'll be quite happy to see that line of visitors, queuing all the way from the ticket booth, down the hill and into the parking lot, once again.~