Fort Mose Reconstruction Groundbreaking
On Jan. 19 St. Johns County helped celebrate the ground breaking of the efforts to reconstruct the 1738 version of Fort Mose at Fort Mose Historic State Park. The fort was established in 1738 as the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in the United States
After the speaking program, the Fort Mose Historical Society performed a militia muster and cannon firing. Those in attendance from the County to participate in the ceremony included Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Sarah Arnold, Christian Whitehurst, Krista Joseph and Roy Alaimo, and County Administrator Joy Andrews. In November 2021, the BOCC committed $50,000 in funding to the Fort Mose project via resolution 2021-495. In October of 2023, the BCC committed an additional $200,000 in funding to the Fort Mose reconstruction project. The County is providing $250,000 to the Fort Mose reconstruction project led by the Florida Parks Foundation.
Fort Mose Historic State Park is a historical and cultural destination managed by the Florida State Parks Service. In addition to a museum and visitor center, the 41-acre park also offers opportunities for kayaking and canoeing, wildlife viewing, and picnicking.