FORT MOSE STATE PARK
Many Negro slaves from the English colonies sought and found refuge in St. Augustine. (A proclamation by Spain’s King Charles II made it possible for any English slave in Spanish Florida to be granted freedom if he converted to Catholicism.) On March 15, 1738, the governor of La Florida granted these slaves freedom. The governor later established a settlement for them. A log fortress was built, and Fort Mose became the northern defense against the British.
Fort Mose (Moh-say) is located about two miles north of St. Augustine. Our visit to the park was informative and interesting. A boardwalk provides a view of brackish marsh, maritime hammocks, and the island where the second Fort Mose was thought to be located. Information about the history of Fort Mose and the flora and fauna of the area is provided along the boardwalk. More historical facts about the time period are displayed from the parking area to the Visitor Center where there are exhibits of artifacts and more factual information. Though the park is small in scale, it has a great deal of information about an important time in Florida’s history and is well worth the visit.
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