Cannons from Castillo de San Marcos headed to Texas for rust removal

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Businesses in St. Augustine are hoping the removal of the iconic cannons on the Castillo de San Marco doesn’t impact tourism.

Fourteen cannons left their 300-year-old home Thursday for a two-year temporary stay in Texas.

The cannons are being moved to Texas A & M University so archeologists can repair rust damage.

Across the street, foot traffic remained the same as usual.

The area continued to bustle and receives close to a million visitors annually.

“I want to teach my kids where the history comes from in St. Augustine,” said Mariely DeOliviera, one of those visitors.

Though the iron cannons were removed, the bronze ones were not.

That is because bronze is not as susceptible to corrosion as the iron when exposed to salt from salt water.

When salt mixes with iron, rust forms.

The cannon restoration costs $458,000, paid for by ticket sales.

But locals say it’s a small price for a piece of history in their own backyard.

“It’s a really big testimony to how well things have been built here that have lasted 500 years,” Elias Jeppesen said.

For park rangers, it’s the fort that was never conquered; for locals, it’s the community that never will be.

Cox Media Group