Fort Mose is the site of the first legally sanctioned free African American community. In 1693 King Charles II of Spain issued a royal proclamation offering freedom to all male and female slaves in exchange for their conversion to the Catholic religion and service to the Crown. By 1738 more than 100 African fugitives had made their way to Saint Augustine, the Fort and the community of Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose were established by the Spanish government to provide protection to the Northern side of the Castillo de San Marcos.

The Florida Park Service Mission Statement is to provide resource based recreation while preserving, interpreting and restoring natural and cultural resources.

The site of Fort Mose was discovered in 1986 and the Fort Mose Historical Society supported the purchase, protection and interpretation of the site by the Florida Park Service.