PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

By  Mike Miller  Updated September 10, 2022

Pensacola, Florida Things To Do, Lodging, Dining, & Real Estate At End Of Article

Pensacola, Florida is in the far western panhandle on Pensacola Bay, an estuary behind the barrier islands along the Gulf of Mexico. 

Its western city limit is only a few miles from the Alabama state line along the Perdido River and Perdido Bay.

Downtown PensacolaDowntown Pensacola

Interstate 10 and US-90 are the main east-west highways into the city, and US-29 comes in from the north.

The population of Pensacola is 54,312.  It is one of several communities within the Pensacola Metropolitan Area which has a population of 509,905.

HISTORY OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA

The name Pensacola came from the Spanish word for the Native American people they found in this area in the 1500's when Panfilo de Narvaez and Hernando de Soto were stomping around.

Pensacola, Florida celebrated its 450th birthday in 2009.

Pensacola Harbor Scene

Tristan de Luna y Arellano came to Pensacola in 1559 with 1400 people on 11 ships to settle the area. A giant hurricane came along shortly after they landed and killed hundreds of people.

The Spanish decided not to settle northwest Florida for a while and abandoned the area for more than 100 years.

During its turbulent history, Pensacola has been governed under five flags:  Spain, France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Confederate States of America.

Pensacola Historic VillagePensacola Historic Village

Spain ceded Florida to the British in 1763, but Britain gave it back after the Revolutionary War. Finally Spain sold Florida to the United States and Pensacola was in the United States as of 1821.

Seville Quarter, PensacolaSeville Quarter, Pensacola

Settlers began to arrive from other states in the 1820s not long after Florida became a territory.

The economy of the area was based on plantation agriculture using enslaved labor for years before the Civil War,

Lumber and naval stores became an important industry because of the millions of acres of nearby forests.

PENSACOLA FLORIDA HERITAGE SITES

As Florida's oldest city, the State of Florida has designated many heritage sites in the area.

  • Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Residential Historic District
  • Barkley House
  • Barrancas National Cemetery
  • Big Lagoon State Park
  • British Fort of Pensacola
  • Charles William Jones House
  • Crystal Ice Co. Building
  • Dorr House
  • Escambia County Courthouse
  • Fort Barrancas Historical District
  • Fort George Site
  • Fort McRee
  • Fort Pickens
  • Fort San Carlos de Barrancas
  • Greater Mount Lily Baptist Church
  • Gulf Islands National Seashore
  • Historic Pensacola Village
  • Julee Cottage Museum
  • L & N Marine Terminal Building
  • L & N Passenger Terminal
  • Lavalle House
  • National Museum of Naval Aviation
  • North Hill Preservation District
  • Old Christ Church
  • Pensacola Historic District
  • Pensacola Historical Museum
  • Pensacola Hospital
  • Pensacola Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters
  • Pensacola Naval Air Station Historic District
  • Pensacola Resource Learning Center and Library
  • Pensacola Scenic Bluffs Scenic Highway
  • Perdido Key Historic District
  • Perdido Key State Park
  • Plaza Ferdinand VII
  • Saenger Theatre
  • St. Joseph's Church Buildings
  • St. Michael's Creole Benevolent Association Meeting Hall
  • The Empire Building
  • Thiesen Building
  • USS Massachusetts

PENSACOLA FLORIDA TODAY

Pensacola is not only a historic town, it is a military town as well.

Its strategic location on the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico has helped make it an important military city.

Naval Air Station Pensacola and other military operations in the area are a key component of the town's culture and economy.

Locals refer to Pensacola as "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", since Naval Air Station Pensacola was the first naval aviation training base set up by the Navy in 1914.

Thousands of naval aviators got their training at NAS Pensacola, and the Navy's aerobatic squadron known as the Blue Angels is based in Pensacola.

U. S. Navy Blue AngelsU. S. Navy Blue Angels

THINGS TO DO IN PENSACOLA FLORIDA

The National Museum of Naval Aviation is a great place to visit on the base, and is free to the public. The museum is home to hundreds of historic and modern aircraft.

National Museum of Naval Aviation

Other interesting places to visit include Fort Barrancas and Fort Pickens where poor old Geronimo was held as a prisoner many years ago.

In addition to the military presence, Pensacola Florida has many annual art and music festivals, historic tours and ancient restored neighborhoods from the earliest days of its settlement.

Pensacola New World InnPensacola New World Inn

The Fiesta of Five Flags is held the first two weeks of June, and is a ten day event.  Each year the celebrations in a bit different.

The Pensacola Seafood Festival and the Pensacola Crawfish Festival are held each year at Seville Square in the heart of downtown.

The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is also held each year in November and attracts more than 200 artists.

Pensacola and St. Augustine continually compete for the title of most ancient city in America.

Pensacola is actually a tad older, but St. Augustine touts itself as being the oldest "continuously occupied" city in America.

Pensacola Beach is a short hop across the waterway and has some of the finest white sand beaches in Florida.

There are many attractions and small towns within 100 miles of Pensacola that are fun to visit on a day trip.


PENSACOLA FLORIDA DAY TRIPS





PENSACOLA FLORIDA INTERACTIVE MAP




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