Kingsley Plantation, Plantation at Fort George Island, Jacksonville, United States.
Kingsley Plantation is a plantation site along the Fort George River in Jacksonville that covers about 60 acres and contains the oldest surviving plantation house in Florida, along with a row of structures built from tabby concrete. The two-story main house from the late colonial period stands beside the remaining foundations and ruins of former outbuildings and quarters for the enslaved workforce.
The plantation dates back to the 18th century and came under the management of Zephaniah Kingsley in 1814, who ran it until 1839 and cultivated cotton with enslaved labor. After the decline of plantation agriculture, the property changed hands several times before the National Park Service took it over and opened it to the public.
The plantation carries the surname of Zephaniah Kingsley, who managed the land and lived there with his wife Anna, originally enslaved and later freed. The main house with its encircling porch reflects the lifestyle of the planter class, while the row of small dwellings on the property shows the living quarters of the enslaved community.
The grounds are open without an entrance fee and offer several marked walking paths through the historical areas, while the interior of the main house can only be visited with a guide. Visitors should bring sturdy shoes and sun protection, as many paths run through open areas under the sky.
Anna Madgigine Jai, who was brought from Senegal and enslaved here, gained her freedom through marriage to the plantation owner and later managed parts of the estate herself. Her story stands at the center of the on-site interpretation, which highlights how complex social relations could be within a slaveholding society.
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