Fort Mose – Underground Railroad Ran South First

If you have listened to stories about the Underground Railroad, you probably thought it ran north first.  Well, the original came south before going north.  Seeking freedom from enslavement in the British Plantations, Africans fled on foot south to Spanish St Augustine. Helped along the way by natives, in 1687 eleven seekers made it to St Augustine.  They were granted asylum by the Spanish government in exchange for conversion to Catholicism. By 1738 there were over 100 freedom seekers living in Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, now known as Fort Mose, the first free black settlement in the United States.

What was the Purpose of Fort Mose?

Governor Manuel Joaquín de Montiano founded Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, Fort Mose, in March of 1738. It was constructed to be the northern outpost to protect St Augustine from British invasion.  Black Freedom seekers manned the fort.  Male Freedom seekers served in the militia at the fort to fulfill their required term of paid service for their freedom. Females provided skillful, vital tasks of farming, cooking, sewing and caring for their children.

Trace the Steps of Freedom Seekers – Flight to Freedom

Each year the journey the freedom seekers sought to reach Spanish St Augustine is reenacted and is known as the Flight to Freedom. Experience the freedom seekers perilous journey for yourself during this three-day event that usually takes place in February.

The reenactment is open to the public along with scheduled, guided tours for schools and groups.   Please check the Fort Mose site for this annual event that shows how the freedom seekers made the long, treacherous journey for their freedom.

Replica Fort Opens

In 1989, Fort Mose became part of the Florida Park Service.  A museum was erected where visitors can experience the Fort’s history through interactive exhibits.  But it was missing something, the original fort.  Archeological digs confirmed where it was, but the majority of time it was underwater.  For many years, the boardwalk led you to the spot.  You were left to your imagination to “see it in your minds’ eye”.

After many years of hope, grants, and fundraising, a replica of the original fort was constructed. Opening to the public in May 2025, the fort is a life-size, full-scale structure that has appropriate landscaping and vegetation as well as having period furnishings.

Battle of Bloody Mose

Each year time turns back to the year 1740 and the Battle of Bloody Mose reenacts the invasion by the British from Georgia and South Carolina. Under the direction of Georgia’s Governor and General James Oglethorpe, the British forced their way into Spanish Florida capturing Fort Mose along with several other forts. Fort Mose’s militia and families retreated to the Castillo de San Marcos where they were bombarded daily.  But that was not the end.  After a lengthy stalemate, Spanish Captain Antonio Salagado, 300 Spanish Regulars, Captain Francisco Menendez, commander of Fort Mose, and the Fort Militia along with Seminoles left the Castillo de San Marcos before dawn on June 26, 1740.  They surprised the British killing 75 troops and capturing 35.  Out of 300 Spanish troops, 10 were killed and 20 wounded. Oglethorpe’s troops retreated to Georgia and South Carolina. In later years, the Spanish eventually relinquished Florida to the British by the treaty ending the French Indian War in 1763.  Many in the St Augustine community and Fort Mose community fled for safety to Spanish held Cuba.

Using the replica fort, this year’s event takes place June 27, 2026.  There will be two reenactments one at 11am and one in the afternoon at 1pm.  See Fort Mose’s website for full details of the day’s event.

In Summary:

Did the Underground Railroad run south first?  Yes, freedom seekers escaped the British plantations in Georgia and South Carolina searching for their freedom.

Why was Fort Mose so important to St Augustine?  Fort Mose was the northern outpost protecting St Augustine from British invasion.

Are there events that take place at Fort Mose?  While there are several events that take place monthly, annually there are two events – Flight to Freedom, reenacting the freedom seekers treacherous journey for their freedom, and Bloody Battle of Fort Mose, reenacting the British invasion of the fort and the Fort Mose Militia, Seminoles and Spanish regained Fort Mose. There is also a Founders Day in March celebrating the founding of Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose – Fort Mose. And a First Harvest in November that recreates a typical autumn festival with 18th century Spanish Florida.

Is there a fort at Fort Mose?  In May 2025 after much hope and grants a replica of Fort Mose was built in full scale with period furnishings.

Is Fort Mose part of the Florida State Park System?  Fort Mose became part of the Florida State Park in 1989 and is open 365 days a year.  Fort Mose has about 40 acres of land and included a museum, a board walk to see where the original fort was, freedom walking trail – a path freedom seekers took may have looked like, and replica of Fort Mose.

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