Things to Do at Kingsley Plantation

Kingsley Plantation stands as one of the oldest plantation houses in Florida and serves as a powerful reminder of the complex history of slavery and plantation life in the antebellum South. Located on this destination Island in northeast Florida, this National Park Service site preserves the remnants of a Sea Island cotton plantation that operated from 1792 to 1839. The plantation was owned by Zephaniah Kingsley, a slave trader who held unconventional views for his time, including his belief in racial equality and his marriage to Anna Madgigine Jai, an African woman he had purchased and later freed. Today, visitors can explore the well-preserved plantation house, the remains of 25 slave cabins, and various outbuildings that tell the story of both the enslaved community and the plantation owners. The site offers a sobering yet educational experience that examines the harsh realities of slavery while also highlighting the resilience and culture of the African American community. The National Park Service provides interpretive programs that focus on the perspectives of the enslaved people who lived and worked here, making it an important destination for understanding American history and the legacy of slavery.

Kingsley Plantation is located on this destination Island, approximately 25 miles northeast of downtown Jacksonville. Take I-95 North to the Heckscher Drive exit (A1A North) and follow it for about 20 miles through the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. The plantation is accessible only by car, and visitors should follow the signs through the winding roads of this destination Island. Parking is available on-site, and the final approach includes a scenic drive through maritime forest.