Historically, Providence Island tells an important chapter in the history of the United States and its relationship to Africa and people of African descent. 

In 1822, the small island at the mouth of the Mesurado River became one of the first places freed slaves from America landed and founded the nation of Liberia. Originally called Dozoa, meaning "Land in the center of water" in the language of the Gola ethnic group who then occupied Cape Mesurado, today the island is at the center of the modern city of Monrovia.