Life
Photos credit: Matthew Denny, St. Johns County Office of Public Affairs
AUGUSTINE
by Aaron London
For nearly 60 years Fort Mose Historic State Park had everything a visitor could wish for – except a fort. With the snip of a ribbon earlier this year, that last wish has come true.
Officials from St. Augustine and St. Johns County, along with community leaders, residents and representatives from Florida State Parks and the Florida State Parks Foundation gathered at the 40- acre site to celebrate the opening of a reconstructed fort modeled on the structure built in 1738.
The full-scale fort was opened to the public as part of the annual St. Augustine History Festival. The fort, located on the northern edge of the city, was the first legally sanctioned Black community in what would become the United States.
“ Fort Mose is so much more than the walls, the roof and the landscaping we see here today,” said Fort Mose Historical Society President Charles Ellis, who performed the ceremonial ribbon cutting.“ These things are all wonderful, and the finished fort has surpassed everything we dreamed it could be when we embarked on this project 30 years ago. But what really matters today is the tribute and testament to the people who risked their lives to come here in the 1700s. Having this new fort in place means that their stories will be told forever.” The Fort Mose Historical Society launched the reconstruction project in 2012 and began fundraising efforts. The Florida State Parks Foundation received a $ 933,000 grant through the Florida Department of State’ s African-American Cultural and Historical grant program for the effort. St. Johns County contributed $ 250,000 to the reconstruction project. In addition, several community organizations and businesses provided funding, including The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, The St. Augustine Amphitheatre’ s Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series, The Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund, The Lastinger Family Foundation, Florida Power and Light, The Bailey Group, Wells Fargo, Northrop Grumman, Florida Blue, and The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
“ This is a truly historic moment for our state, our nation and everyone who believes in the power of freedom,” said Julia Gill Woodward, CEO of the Florida State Parks Foundation.“ To be a part of something like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we are so grateful to all the partners who believed in Fort Mose and helped make this day happen.”
SEPTEMBER 2025 | 9 |