Tallahassee Historical Society
Trip to Prospect Bluff
April 13, 2024
**Please note, this trip has been rescheduled to April 13 due to inclement weather.
The “Negro Fort,” “Fort Gadsden,” “The Fort at Prospect Bluff:” What’s in a Name?
The Tallahassee Historical Society, on April 13, will be making a field trip to a place with many names. Please plan to join us!
From roughly 1783-1816, it was called “The Negro Fort,” because it was a place where enslaved persons joined the Seminoles to create one of the largest maroon (free Black) communities in North America.
From 1817 into the 21st century, it was called “Fort Gadsden” after the man who blew it up under Andrew Jackson’s command.
Today, it is simply called “The Fort at Prospect Bluff” after the high ground where its remains still overlook the Apalachicola River.
Noted author and historian Dale Cox, whose book “The Fort at Prospect Bluff” is the best account of the story of the fort, will meet us at approximately 11:00 a.m. and conduct a tour and lecture on the fort. For those who attended Mr. Cox's lecture at last year's historical society meeting know that this is a trip you won't want to miss!
Please plan to wear comfortable clothing and shoes as we will be doing a fair amount of walking. Bring your own snack, water bottles and a packed lunch, if you'd like to stay and eat lunch as a group.
We will meet at Prospect Bluff at 11:00 a.m. (the park is in eastern time zone). We kindly ask that you register so we have an accurate headcount. We look forward to seeing you there!
Aerial view of Fort Gadsden State Park.
