It’s been an interesting journey following the story of the settlements on the coasts of Georgia and Florida as we make our way south and stop at all of the little historic sites. This one is especially intriguing. Fort Mose, established in Spanish Florida in 1738, was a free community for slaves escaping from the north. The fort, manned by black soldiers, also served as the first line of protection for St. Augustine. One of the reasons that Oglethorpe attacked St. Augustine in 1740 was to destroy this haven for the former slaves. The British managed to capture and burn the fort but were forced back to Savannah by black, Indian and Spanish troops. The inhabitants of the fort lived in St Augustine until 1752 when a new fort was built.
The small visitor center is very nicely done. A short boardwalk leads to a view of the fort location. It’s not possible to actually go to the location because the surrounding land is now a marsh. During the construction of the Ponce de León Hotel Henry Flagler carted most of the soil from the village and farming area to St. Augustine to be used as fill.
The museum and the boardwalk are accessible.
RVs can be parked lengthwise across the spaces. Fort
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