Fort Caroline, also known as the Fort Caroline National Memorial, is the first fortification site built by the French forces in the United States. It was built in 1564 atop of the St. Johns Bluff, in today?s Jacksonville, Florida. It was initiated by Rene Goulaine de Laudonniere, along with 200 new settlers. The site was designed to function as a refuge for the Huguenots.

Unfortunately, Fort Caroline was destroyed a year after it was built by the Spanish. Although, the site only existed for a very brief period of time, it is still a very important part of American history. It started a bloody conflict between the French and the Spanish, which lasted for quite some time.

The Fort Caroline National Memorial is now operated by the National Park Service. It is open to visitors who are interested in learning about the site?s rich history.