2026 Fort Mose Historical Society Annual Meeting

The Fort Mose Historical Society invites members, prospective members, and guests to the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Membership—an evening celebrating scholarship, community, and the enduring legacy of America’s first legally sanctioned free Black settlement. This year’s gathering is anchored by the theme “Fort Mose at the Crossroads of History: Africa, Spain, and the Americas,” emphasizing the global significance of Mose and the multicultural world it represents.
The evening begins with guided tours of the museum and reconstructed fort from 6:00 to 6:30 PM, offering attendees an opportunity to explore the site’s rich interpretive landscape before the main program.

From 6:30 to 8:30 PM, guests will enjoy a dynamic program under the tent, including essential Society business, reflections on the past year’s accomplishments, and recognition of outstanding volunteers and board members. The program’s centerpiece is a keynote presentation by Dr. Jane Landers, the foremost scholar on Fort Mose and the African diaspora in Spanish Florida. Dr. Landers will deliver a 25–30 minute talk sharing new insights from her ongoing research, illuminating the lives and legacies of the men and women who shaped Fort Mose’s remarkable story.

In celebration of her newly released book, Fort Mose, Second Edition: Colonial America’s Black Fortress of Freedom, the Society will host a book signing following the program. Co-editors Darcie MacMahon and Kathleen Deagan will join Dr. Landers, offering attendees a special opportunity to meet the authors behind this landmark publication.

The Annual Meeting will also feature organizational updates, recognition of partners, and a preview of upcoming initiatives that continue to expand education, preservation, and community engagement.

Join us for an inspiring evening honoring Fort Mose’s past, present, and future.