Fort San Marcos & The Ribaut Monument
The concrete pillars and the shallow depression here represent the outline and moat of a fortication excavated by the Marine Corps in 1923. The archaeological dig was supervised by Major George Osterhout who believed this was the site of the French Huguenot ( Protestsnt ) outpost Charlesfort founded in 1562 by by Jean Ribaut. In 1925 the obelisk was erected to honor the early French explorers. Major Osterhout is among the dignitaries present for the dedication of the monument in March of 1926. He is the second from the right in the second row underneath the French flag.
Recent excavations reveal that this is the site of the Spanish Fort San Marcos that guarded the town of Santa Elena from 1577-1587. In 1996 the actual site of Charlesfort was found 200 yards north of here.
Marker is on Belleau Wood Road, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
