Local Black History
Our Story in St Johns' County
Black History
Fort Mose: America’s First Free Black Settlement
In 1738, on the outskirts of St. Augustine, Florida, formerly enslaved Africans established Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, known today as Fort Mose. It became the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in what is now the United States.
Men, women, and children escaped enslavement in the British colonies and found freedom in Spanish Florida, where they built a self-governing community and served as militia defenders of the region. Led by leaders such as Captain Francisco Menéndez, Fort Mose stands as an early and powerful symbol of Black resistance, resilience, and self-determination in American history.
Located at 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, Florida.
Civil Rights Protests
St. Augustine emerged as a key center of the Civil Rights Movement when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Robert Hayling, and fellow activists organized sit-ins, protests, and marches in the city’s downtown.
Thank you to the Civil Rights Library of St. Augustine.
AP Photo
AP Photo
AP Photo
AP Photo
Historical Resources
Please visit St. Johns Culture website for more information.
Dr. Robert B Hayling was a prominent local leader, dentist, commissioned Air Force second lieutenant, Lincolnville resident, and civil rights protest organizer and was
critical to the passing of the voting rights act of 1964. Dr. Hayling organized a local student Woolworth sit-in as well as other protests.
The Monson Motor Lodge protest was the largest mass arrest of rabbis in U.S. history which occurred while the rabbis were supporting a swimmers’ protest of a segregated pool at the motel. An infamous photograph of the motel manager pouring muriatic acid into the pool made the cover of the New York Times
in 1964.
Beach wade-ins at the St. Augustine Beach Hotel and Pier was the staging area for protestors who waded in to protest segregated beaches. They were up against the Ku Klux Klan who planted two Confederate flags and tried to block off the boardwalk from protestors.
Civil Rights icon Cora Tyson celebrated her 102nd birthday in 2025. Mrs. Tyson is called the “House Mother to the Civil Rights Movement” for opening her home to activists. Her home is a civil rights landmark in Lincolnville.
The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center
Historic Coast Culture, Brian Nelson
The Lincolnville Museum is housed in the historic Excelsior School Building, which served as the first public Black high school in the county. Located at 102 Martin Luther King Avenue in St. Augustine, the museum chronicles more than 450 years of Black history in the St. Augustine area. Conveniently, the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley stops right next to the museum, making it easy to include in your visit.
Inside, visitors can explore the stories of the first Black settlers who arrived from West Africa in the 1500s, learn about life for free and enslaved Black men and women under Spanish rule, and discover the important role St. Augustine played during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The museum also highlights influential Black women who shaped the community, the rich legacy of historic Black-owned businesses, and the area’s musical history, including the connection to Ray Charles, who attended the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine.
There is so much to learn, reflect on, and appreciate at the Lincolnville Museum. It offers a meaningful window into the enduring history and contributions of the Black community in St. Augustine and is well worth a visit.
ACCORD Freedom Trail
ACCORD (Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations, Inc.) established the ACCORD Freedom Trail to honor and preserve the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the St. Augustine area. The Freedom Trail features a self-guided cell phone audio tour with 31 historic markers located at significant sites throughout the city.
The ACCORD Freedom Trail Museum is located at 79 Bridge Street in St. Augustine.
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead for current hours at (904) 347-1382.