Kingsley Plantation

Kingsley Plantation spreads across Fort George Island and houses the oldest standing plantation building in Florida along with a collection of well-preserved slave cabins. The layout shows how the plantation was organized as a working agricultural settlement, with the owner's residence and separate quarters arranged across the property.

Zephaniah Kingsley founded this plantation in the early 1800s and ran it for 25 years as both a farming operation and a center for slave trading. After his time, ownership changed hands and the island's use shifted multiple times before the site was eventually preserved as a historical location.

The site reflects the layered social structure of Spanish Florida, where people of mixed descent held legal rights uncommon in other colonies. Walking through the grounds today shows how these social distinctions shaped the physical layout of the settlement.

The site is open to public visits with free access provided by the National Park Service, and guided tours of the planter's house are offered on weekends. Walking across the property requires navigating natural terrain, so comfortable shoes and awareness of weather conditions are important for your visit.

The slave quarters were constructed using tabby, a concrete-like material made from crushed oyster shells, lime, sand, and water common in coastal construction of that era. This building method was practical and durable, making it a clever use of local materials that visitors can still observe in the preserved structures today.