Fort Santo Domingo (New Taipei City Tamsui Historical Museum) Introduction
Fort San Domingo, standing in Tamsui for over 300 years, is characterized by its striking red exterior. The site includes buildings from the Spanish era, Qing Dynasty, and Japanese occupation, making it one of Taiwan's oldest existing structures. The fort was originally built in 1628 by the Spanish as "Santolmingo," but it was later destroyed. In 1644, the Dutch rebuilt it near the original site, naming it "Fort Anthony." The local Han Chinese referred to the Dutch as "Red-haired," hence the name "Fort San Domingo." In 1724, Wang Xian, the deputy magistrate of Tamsui, began renovations, adding four outer gates. After 1867, the fort was rented by the British government and used as a consulate, with the consular residence built next to it. Having witnessed the rule of the Spanish, Dutch, Ming Zheng, Qing Dynasty, as well as the British, American, and Australian administrations, it serves as a living testament to Taiwan's history. The Fort San Domingo Historic Site, opened to the public at the end of 1984, includes the castle-like main fort, the consular residence designed in Western style, and the South Gate from the Qing Dynasty. Its architecture serves various functions, including military defense, consular office, and dungeon. Walking along the arched corridor to the front plaza of Fort San Domingo, visitors can look out over the Tamsui River and Guanyin Mountain. One of Tamsui's Eight Scenic Views, the "Sunset at the Guard Station," is located here, making the beauty of the sunset a sight not to be missed.
