Fort Mose Historic State Park

One more place to enjoy near St. Augustine in Florida

Fort Mose Historic State Park

St. Augustine, a popular destination for many tourists, is often known for its history as a Spanish colony from 1565 to the 1760s. However, not many people realize that it also played a significant role in America’s Black history. In fact, there was a place called Fort Mose, which was established in 1738 and became the first officially recognized free African settlement in the United States.

The Spanish ruled over Florida in the past and they had a significant number of enslaved individuals. However, the nature of slavery in Spain and its colonies differed from that in Britain’s colonies. Slavery was seen by Spain as mainly a political strategy, which made their stance on slavery more adaptable. Consequently, those who were enslaved by the Spanish had certain legal rights, such as the opportunity to buy their freedom in due course.