Fort George Island near Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Kingsley Plantation

Plantation Era Florida

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 26, 2010

1. Kingsley Plantation, Plantation Era Florida, Marker

Inscription. The plantation era was a time in our history of opportunity, political contradictions and great cruelty.

For planters, like Zephaniah Kingsley, it was a time for amassing land and wealth. For enslaved Africans who produced the wealth it was a time of dehumanizing and brutal life, but also extraordinary strength, perseverance and faith. All played a significant role in what happened here during that time in our history.

"It will be allowed by everyone, that agriculture is the great foundation of the wealth and prosperity of our Southern States. ...we are therefore to look for labour to that intrinsically valuable caste of People called Negro Slaves whose productive labour and cheerful obedience has in all cases been measured by the justice & good treatment of their master who is well remunerated for this kindness by rearing up a permanent & profitable Estate."
Zephaniah Kingsley, 1826

"The memory of slavery gives voice to the men and women who experienced slavery directly and tells two great stories. If slavery was violence and imposition - if it was death - slavery was also life. ...slaves did not surrender to the imposition, physical and psychological. They refused to be dehumanized by dehumanizing treatment. On the narrowest of grounds and in the most difficult of circumstances
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they created and sustained life in the form of families, churches, and associations of all kinds."
Ira Berlin, 2001

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1826.

Location. 30° 26.344′ N, 81° 26.245′ W. Marker is near Jacksonville, Florida, in Duval County. It is on Fort George Island. Marker can be reached from Palmetto Avenue, 2.1 miles north of Fort George Road. This historical marker is located in a national park. The historical marker is in a very remote area that is reached by traveling a considerable distance on an unpaved dirt road. To get there one must turn north, off of the Florida State Route 1A (Heckscher Road), onto Fort George Road, and then traveling about 0.6 miles to the intersection of Fort George Road and Palmetto Avenue, were you turn north on Palmetto Avenue and travel to the end of this road to reach the historical marker. The turn-off from state route 1A can be identified by the "Kingsley Plantation, Fort George Island Visitor Center" sign that is situated right at the turnoff point. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jacksonville FL 32226, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 26, 2010

2. Kingsley Plantation, Plantation Era Florida, Marker

View of historical marker located at a marker station just north of the facility's parking lot and looking west towards the plantation's garden area.

. Plantation Slavery (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Kingsley Plantation (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Kingsley Plantation (a few steps from this marker); Plantation Crops (within shouting distance of this marker); Task System (within shouting distance of this marker); Looking Back (within shouting distance of this marker); Slaves Cabins (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Looking Back (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.

Also see . . .
1. Kingsley Plantation. This is a link to information provided by the National Park Service. (Submitted on February 5, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

2. Kingsley Plantation. This is a link to information provided by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (Submitted on February 5, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 26, 2010

3. Kingsley Plantation, Plantation Era Florida, Marker

View of historical marker at marker station, looking north towards the plantation owner's residence.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 5, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 950 times since then and 3 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 5, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.