Fort Mose

Fort Mose State Park offers opportunities to view an important part of history, as well as a wildlife walk and canoe and kayak docks. 

History of Fort Mose

On this site, the Spanish governor of Florida gave former slaves the right to live as freed men and women in a settlement of their own, the first in what is now the United States. These men and women, originally from Africa, escaped from British slaveholders and walked south to Spanish St. Augustine, where the governor granted them asylum.

The first few arrived in 1678, and by 1738, there were more than 100 former enslaved black members in the community. The governor had a town and fort erected on the northern border of St. Augustine, less than three miles from the Plaza de la Constitución, naming the fort Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mosa, or Fort Mose. Captain Francisco Menéndez, a former enslaved African, led the free black militia of Fort Mose. 

The free black militia disbanded after all of Florida became English property, and the community members fled to Cuba. The fort disappeared into the land and the site was largely forgotten until the 1990s when archaeologists and historians worked with the state and local government to create a historic landmark. Fort Mose has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark since 1994, and in 2009 the National Park Service titled it as a precursor site of the National Underground Railroad Network.

Most recently, another group of historians and officials raised funds to build a representative structure of the earthen-work fort and broke ground on the project early in 2024. They held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new structure in May of 2025 and it is now open to the public.

Fort Mose is a popular destination on the National Underground Railroad to Freedom, the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, and the Florida African American History Trail.

Amenities at Fort Mose

You can stroll along the scenic boardwalk and natural trails when the grounds are open. A visitor center and museum are available, so you can further explore and learn more about the site's history. The grounds are open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day. The visitor center and museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday through Monday. There is no fee to enjoy the park. Touring the museum costs $2.00 per person, and children younger than six are free.

• The new fort structure
• Canoeing/kayaking docks
• Wildlife viewing
• Visitor center
• Museum
• Boardwalk
• Picnic facilities
• Restroom facilities
• Tours for schools and groups

Visit Fort Mose

Address: 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Parking & Admission: There is parking on site. Admission to the park is free. The visitor center is open Thursday through Monday with a $2.00 fee. Children younger than six are free. Call (904) 823-2232 for more details. 

Special Events: The site is available for events such as weddings, family reunions, corporate gatherings, and celebrations. To coordinate a private function at Fort Mose, call (904) 228-3679.

Other Parks Near Fort Mose

The Castillo de San Marcos, Eddie Vickers Park, and Dr. Robert Hayling Freedom Park are only a short drive away. Check our local Parks Directory and article, Black History Museums in St. Augustine.