Rediscover Fort Mose: Experience the First Free Black Settlement’s Rich History Through Reconstruction and Interactive Exhibits
By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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Fort Mose, the first free Black settlement in the U.S., is getting a life-size reproduction. This historic site sits in St. Augustine, Florida. The Spanish built Fort Mose in the 1700s as a landmark of freedom. Surprisingly, many people have never heard of this important place.
The History of Fort Mose
The Spanish governor of Florida founded Fort Mose, officially named Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, in 1738. He created it as a free Black community. Consequently, Fort Mose became the first legally sanctioned settlement of its kind in what would become the United States (Fort Mose Historical Society: fortmose.org).
Located two miles north of St. Augustine, Fort Mose served as a military outpost. It protected the city’s northern border and provided sanctuary to Africans escaping slavery from the British colonies of the Carolinas (African Americans Settle in Fort Mose: fcit.usf.edu). Indeed, it was a beacon of hope for many.
“Over 100 freedom seekers, aided by Native Americans, reached Fort Mose by 1738. The men formed their own militia under Captain Francisco Menendez” (The Fort Mose Story: fortmose.org).
Rediscovering Fort Mose
Frederick Eugene Williams, a historian and archaeologist, rediscovered Fort Mose’s location in 1968. The site had been forgotten and swallowed by the marsh. Williams’ discovery revived interest in Fort Mose (Fort Mose – Exhibits – Florida Museum: floridamuseum.ufl.edu). Subsequently, archaeologists excavated the site between 1986-1988 and uncovered remains of the original fort’s structures. They found artifacts that shed light on the daily lives of Fort Mose’s residents (Fort Mose: The first free Black town in the US – BBC: bbc.com).
Fort Mose’s Designation and Preservation
In 1994, the U.S. designated Fort Mose as a National Historic Landmark. Today, the 40-acre waterfront site operates as a Florida State Park. Additionally, the park features a museum highlighting Fort Mose’s rich history (History of Fort Mose | Florida State Parks: floridastateparks.org).
“The Fort Mose Historical Society has been working to reconstruct a representation of the 1738 fort since the mid-1990s” (Fort Mose Historical Society: fortmose.org).
The Current Status of the Fort Mose Reconstruction Project
Groundbreaking Ceremony at Fort Mose Historic State Park
The Fort Mose reconstruction project kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony on January 19, 2024. Held at Fort Mose Historic State Park in St. Augustine, Florida, the event marked the beginning of an exciting chapter. Many local officials and community members attended the ceremony, highlighting the importance of this historic site (Fort Mose begins fort reconstruction: staugustine.com).
Funding and Planning for the Fort Mose Reconstruction
The Fort Mose Historical Society, founded in 1996, has been working to reconstruct the fort since 2012. In 2022, the Florida State Parks Foundation secured a $933,500 grant from the Florida African-American Cultural & Historical Grant program. Additionally, they gathered matching funds to make the $3 million project a reality (Groundbreaking Set to Honor First Legally Sanctioned Free Black Community: asalh.org).
In March 2023, officials unveiled architectural renderings for a full-scale, life-size reconstruction of Fort Mose. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2024, with completion expected by the end of 2024 (Fort Mose begins reconstruction of 18th-century community: jaxtoday.org).
Creating an Immersive Experience at Fort Mose
The reconstructed fort will be built on solid ground near the existing museum at Fort Mose Historic State Park. This immersive experience will allow visitors to see, hear, touch, and learn about life in the first legally sanctioned free Black community in what became the United States (Construction begins on Fort Mose rebuild: blackcatholicmessenger.org). Consequently, the project aims to educate the public about this significant chapter of early African American history.
Collaboration and Dedication to Fort Mose
The project represents a collaborative effort between the Fort Mose Historical Society, Florida State Parks, academics who rediscovered the fort’s ruins in the 1980s, and local officials in St. Johns County. This collaboration underscores decades of dedication to preserving and sharing the important history of Fort Mose (First free Black settlement in U.S. resurrected: washingtonpost.com).
Fort Mose Reconstruction Nears Completion
As of May 2024, the Fort Mose reconstruction project is well underway. Following a successful groundbreaking in January, construction of the full-scale fort replica is set to begin imminently. The project remains on track to be finished by late 2024, bringing this little-known but significant chapter of early African American history to life for the public. Visitors will soon have the opportunity to engage with and appreciate the rich history of Fort Mose (Fort Mose Unveils Historic Reconstruction Project: floridastateparksfoundation.org).
About the author
Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been an educator since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
