Every June, Fort Mose Historic State Park becomes a focal point of historical commemoration as it hosts the Battle of Bloody Mose event. This year, the park celebrates a significant addition with the completion of a replica fort, enhancing its authenticity.
Fort Mose Historic State Park was originally established in 1738 as Garcia Real de Santa Theresa de Mose, recognized as North America’s first legally sanctioned free Black settlement. It served both military and residential purposes, primarily inhabited by escaped slaves from South Carolina and Georgia. The site was rediscovered nearly 250 years later during an archaeological dig led by the Florida Museum of Natural History. Visitors have long asked about the fort’s whereabouts since its original structure had disappeared over time.
After three decades of efforts, Fort Mose now features a new tangible structure—a replica fort built with an enforced concrete frame that mimics wood and spans three stories. Charles Ellis, President of the Fort Mose Historical Society, states: “This fort is a tribute to the people who were brave enough to act and determined enough to travel on only the hope that free territory was waiting for them.”
The construction cost $3 million, funded through grants, donations, and events like the annual Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series.
On June 28, living historians will reenact the Battle of Bloody Mose at this new site. The battle originally occurred on June 26, 1740, during General Oglethorpe’s invasion of Spanish Florida. The event marks his campaign’s end. On June 27, there will be an encampment and tours available from 6-8 p.m.
Admission to Fort Mose Historic State Park is $2 per person. The park operates Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering guided tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., with monthly militia muster reenactments on every first Saturday.
Fort Mose is part of Florida’s Historic Coast attractions located between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville. Visitor Information Centers are available at various locations in St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach for further assistance.
For more information or advance travel planning details can be accessed via www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com or by calling 1-800-653-2489.
Media Contact: Barbara Golden, Communications Manager
