Main Page - Fort Mose Historical State Park

Manager's Message

Autumn has arrived and brought us cooler weather and shorter days. Fall offers a great opportunity to enjoy the crisp air, migratory birds and the peaceful marsh. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk or pack a lunch and enjoy the afternoon at the picnic pavilion. Don’t forget your camera; the crisp fall sky against the marsh is picture perfect!

Experience History in St. Augustine every Saturday in November! Spend a Saturday immersed in history at the Nation’s Oldest Port! From historic battles forts to the secret for everlasting youth, the Old Town Trolley (the green trolley) will stop at 4 historic sites every Saturday in November. Each site offers programs and activities; The Castillo de San Marcos from 9am – 11am, Fort Mose from 11am – 1pm, the Fountain of Youth from 1pm – 3pm, and the St. Augustine Lighthouse from 3pm – 5pm. Fort Mose will offer a guided program at 11am and self guided activities from 12pm -1pm. Bring the family and discover the courageous story of Fort Mose. No reservation is required.

Fort Mose Historic State Park’s annual Flight to Freedom, a living history event, has been scheduled for February 27, 2010 from 10am – 3pm. Please plan to join us as re-enactors in period clothing tell the story of Fort Mose.

History of Fort Mose group tours are available. Please schedule at least two weeks in advance. Please call Park Office at 904-823-2232 for reservations.
- Paul Crawford, Park Manager

Welcome to Fort Mose Historical State Park

The power politics of 18th century England and Spain reached across the Atlantic to the Florida frontier. In 1738, the Spanish governor of Florida chartered Fort Mose as a settlement for freed Africans who had fled slavery in the British Carolinas. When Spain ceded Florida to Britain in 1763, the inhabitants of Fort Mose migrated to Cuba. Although nothing remains of the fort, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 for its importance in American history. Visitors may view the site from a boardwalk and stop for a picnic in a covered pavilion. Located approximately two miles north of the Castillo de San Marcos near the St. Augustine City gates on U.S. 1. Turn east off U.S. 1 onto Fort Mose Trail and follow the signs to the site.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about Fort Mose Historical State Park, please call (904) 823-2232.

Hours of Operation

The Visitor Center is open Thursday through Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The grounds are open daily from 8:00 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.

Driving Directions

From St. Augustine: From downtown St. Augustine, drive north on A1A. At the carousel (you read it correctly), continue straight north on San Marco. (A1A turns right towards Vilano Beach. Don't go that way.) San Marco merges with Hwy 1. Shortly after the merge, look for a bronze statue on the right and a sign for Fort Mose. Turn right on Fort Mose Trail. Fort Mose Trail dead ends into Fort Mose picnic area and parking lot.
OR: From Hwy 1 in St. Augustine, drive north past Hwy 16. Look for a bronze statue on the right and a sign for Fort Mose. Turn right on Fort Mose Trail. Fort Mose Trail dead ends into Fort Mose picnic area and parking lot.

From Jacksonville: Drive south on Hwy 1. Turn left on Fort Mose Trail. (If you pass Hwy 16 you've missed Fort Mose Trail.) Fort Mose Trail dead ends into Fort Mose picnic area and parking lot.