Last updated on January 22nd, 2026 at 02:55 pm
If you listen carefully, tuning out the noise from the park’s boardwalk and picnic areas, you can almost hear the sounds of North America’s first free Black settlement.
A hammer beating molten iron at the blacksmith, the squeals of children, the cadence of the local militia.
El Pueblo de Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose attracted Blacks from Africa, Spain and the Carolinas. More than 100 men, women and children once lived at the old fort.
The original Fort Mose was a haven for runaway slaves fleeing harsh plantation life of Georgia and the Carolinas.
The fort was built in 1738, and its occupants found refuge in this Spanish colony by pledging allegiance to the king of Spain and joining the Catholic Church.
In 1740, British troops led by Gen. James Oglethorpe of Georgia invaded St. Augustine, laying siege to Fort Mose.
Sixteen days later, it was reclaimed by a battalion of Spanish soldiers, along with Fort Mose’s black militia and native Yamasee warriors. Casualties were high.
The British called it ‘The Battle of Bloody Mose.’
In 1763, when the British took control of Florida, the residents of Fort Mose fled to Cuba, only to return after the American Revolution when sovereignty over Florida was returned to Spain.
Safe haven for slaves and free blacks
On Saturday, June 27, 2026, the Fort Mose Historical Society hosts a reenactment of the Battle of Bloody Mose at Fort Mose Historical State Park, 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, FL 32084. The park opens at 8 a.m., the opening ceremony is at 10 a.m., and reenactments are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission is free. Additional activities include musket demonstrations and colonial crafts, 18th-century food preparation, finger weaving and pine needle basket weaving.
The re-enactment is a reminder of the rich history of North America’s oldest city. When Spain regained its Florida territory after the American Revolution, an enduring community of free blacks was established.
Under Spanish rule, blacks not only found asylum from slavery but a comfortable enough life that black men were willing to protect it by serving in the militia protecting Spanish Florida from the British.
Today, the original site of the fort is a 40-acre state park with a reconstructed fort, picnic areas, a marina for canoeing and kayaking, and a boardwalk for bird-watching.
Things to do at Fort Mose State Park
Birding — Fort Mose’s open spaces and wheelchair-accessible boardwalks provide ideal wildlife viewing opportunities for coastal shorebirds and birds of prey. The park has one manual wheelchair available on a first come first served basis during visitor center hours.
Kayaking — Launch from a floating boardwalk platform east of the museum. You can also paddle here from other locations and tie up for activities. The boardwalk is on a tributary of the Tolomato River and is subject to tidal variations.
Tours — Group tours of the Fort Mose museum and grounds are available at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and last about 60 minutes. Call the park office at 904-823-2232 to schedule a tour.
Fort Mose Historic State Park, 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, FL 32084, (904) 823-2232. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 365 days a year. Admission is free. Pets OK. Phone: 904-823-2232. Also see Fort Mose Historical Society
Campgrounds nearby
Anastasia State Park (Public), 1340-A State Road A1A South, St. Augustine — Four miles of pristine beach and historic St. Augustine make this state park the perfect layover for visitors to the nation’s oldest city and hike through snow-white dunes, bicycle on the beach, paddle, sail or fish. Anastasia State Park has 139 camping sites for RVs and tents. Sites are in the hammock forest, away from blowing sand and salt spray, but most are within easy bicycling or walking distance from the beach. Related story: Anastasia State Park
Faver-Dykes State Park (Public), 1000 Faver-Dykes Road, St. Augustine — Campground was closed when we checked on Nov. 3, 2025. This tranquil park borders Pellicer Creek into the open marshes that frame the Intracoastal Waterway south of St. Augustine, and it’s just a hop and a skip off I-95. The campground has 30 sites in a shady hardwood hammock, each buffered from neighboring sites by natural vegetation. Each site has water, electric, fire circle with grill and a picnic table. A dump station is in the campground. Pets allowed. Max RV length is 30 feet. The kayak trails here are spectacular. Related story: Faver-Dykes State Park
North Beach Camp Resort (Private), 4125 Coastal Highway, St. Augustine — With 1,000 feet of river front directly across the Intracoastal Waterway from Fort Mose Historic State Park, this private 60-acre campground with all the amenities is perfect for paddlers and boaters who will visit Fort Mose by water. The campground has 10 sites for tents and 130 gravel-based RV sites with 30-amp and 50-amp hookups. If you don’t have a boat, you can rent one. Pricier than the state parks cited above, you get what you pay for. Camping rate: Tent and RV, $72-$144. Cabins for $217 to $278 per night. Call 800-542-8316.
Unique Lodging: The St. Francis Inn
The pond in the garden of the St. Francis Inn is fed by an artesian well and is home to colorful koi fish. With 26 B&Bs in town, historic St. Augustine is the perfect place for the bed-and-breakfast experience.
Built in 1791, the St. Francis was first used as an inn in the 1840s. It has been owned by more than 20 families over the centuries, but the same friendly couple has owned and operated it as a B&B for 30 years.
The St. Francis Inn is on a quiet residential brick street in the historic district, walking distance to restaurants and attractions. It has bikes for guests, a pool and is beautifully landscaped with interesting tropical plants.
St. Francis Inn, 279 St George St, St. Augustine, (904) 824-6068.
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