In 1693, King Charles II of Spain decreed that runaway slaves would be given sanctuary in his colonies. Many fugitives subsequently made their way to St. Augustine and helped defend the colony against British attacks. In 1728, the Spanish governor of Florida abolished the slave market in St. Augustine and freed all remaining enslaved soldiers.

Ten years later, Fort Mose was established near St. Augustine, making it the first free black settlement in North America. Spain encouraged slaves to flee English-held areas, and Fort Mose and its village soon became a diverse community of people from varied African backgrounds.

When Spain ceded Florida to Britain in 1763, most inhabitants of Fort Mose migrated to Cuba, and for two centuries, its remains lay forgotten in the marshes. In 1986, archeologists uncovered its location, which was named a National Historic Landmark in 1994. Although nothing remains above ground, visitors to Fort Mose State Park can explore the land where the settlement once stood and learn more at the Visitor Center and Museum.

Courtesy of the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources