Skip to main content

Our location

301 S Monroe St. 32317

Connect with us

YouTube / Mailing List / Contact

Search

Maroon Communities

Home  >  Collections  >  Maroon Communities

Maroon communities represent a powerful and often overlooked aspect of the history of slavery in the Americas. These settlements were formed by enslaved Africans who escaped bondage and established independent societies in remote, often inhospitable, areas. These communities were more than just temporary havens; they were vibrant, self-sufficient societies that developed their own unique cultures, blending African traditions with those of the indigenous peoples they encountered. The story maps below will explore the concept of maroonage through the lens of several key historical examples, including Pilaklikaha, Fort Mose, and the Negro Fort, highlighting the resilience, resistance, and cultural evolution of these communities.

Pilaklikaha Thumbnail

Pilaklikaha "Abraham's Old Town"

Overview: Located in what is now Florida, Pilaklikaha was a prominent maroon settlement associated with the Seminole people. It was often called "Abraham's Old Town" after Abraham, a formerly enslaved man who rose to become a key Seminole leader and interpreter. This community was a significant example of the complex alliances and cultural exchange between maroons and Native American tribes.

Fast Fact:The name "Pilaklikaha" is of Muscogee Creek origin and translates to "place where the water is wide and shallow."

Highlights:
  • A Strategic Hub: Located in a strategic position near a major Seminole settlement, Pilaklikaha was a key center for trade and communication.
  • Leadership of Abraham: The community was famously associated with Abraham, a formerly enslaved man who became a prominent Seminole leader, interpreter, and military advisor.
  • Cultural Blending: Pilaklikaha exemplified the deep cultural and social integration between maroons and the Seminole people, who fought alongside each other against American expansion.
Begin Tour
Ft Mose Thumbnail

Fort Mose: The Original Underground Railroad

Overview: Fort Mose was a settlement founded in Spanish Florida in 1738, established specifically for formerly enslaved Africans who had escaped from the British colonies. This community served as a crucial first stop on what could be considered the original Underground Railroad, offering a beacon of freedom and a place where formerly enslaved people could live as free subjects of the Spanish crown, provided they converted to Catholicism and served in the militia.

Fast Fact: Fort Mose was the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what would become the United States.

Highlights:
  • A Spanish Sanctuary: Established in 1738 by the Spanish colonial government in Florida, Fort Mose was a haven for enslaved people escaping from British colonies like South Carolina.
  • Militia Service: In exchange for their freedom, the residents of Fort Mose served in the Spanish militia, defending Spanish Florida from British attacks.
  • Beacon of Freedom: For nearly 100 years, Fort Mose served as a powerful symbol of resistance and a destination for those seeking freedom, predating the more famous Underground Railroad.
Begin Tour
Negro Fort

The Negro Fort

Overview: The Negro Fort, also known as Fort Gadsden, was located on a bluff overlooking the Apalachicola River. Originally built by the British during the War of 1812, it was later occupied by maroons and their Seminole allies. This fort became a symbol of defiance and a refuge for hundreds of escaped slaves. Its destruction by the U.S. Army in 1816 marked a violent chapter in the struggle for freedom and sovereignty for these communities.

Fast Fact: The destruction of the Negro Fort by the U.S. Army in 1816 resulted in one of the deadliest explosions in American history prior to the Civil War.

Highlights:
  • A British and Maroon Alliance: Originally built by the British to house maroon and Native American allies during the War of 1812, the fort was abandoned and then occupied by maroons.
  • A Symbol of Defiance: The fort became a symbol of defiance and a refuge for hundreds of maroons and Seminoles, who saw it as their own sovereign territory.
  • U.S. Expansionism: The U.S. Army's attack on the fort was driven by fears that it would inspire further slave rebellions and disrupt American expansion into Spanish Florida.
Begin Tour