Top 10 Activities at the Gulf Islands National Seashore
We’re narrowing down the best activities and must-see attractions within the white sand, idyllic dunes and historic sites known as the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Tour de Fort and Archaeology at Fort Pickens Area
Millions of visitors come to Gulf Islands National Seashore each year to enjoy its unspoiled beauty and white sandy beaches. Established in 1971, this nationally significant and protected seashore stretches 160 miles across Mississippi and Florida, making it the largest in the National Park system. The portion closest to Pensacola lies on the western end of Santa Rosa Island, known as the Fort Pickens Area, where historic military fortifications, scenic trails, and access to Pensacola Bay and the Gulf draw visitors year-round.
While many explore these visible reminders of the past, spanning antebellum Florida through World War II, much of the island’s history remains hidden beneath shifting sands and surrounding waters. The archaeological record here spans thousands of years, from early Indigenous occupation to more recent maritime history, including shipwrecks resting just offshore, many of which go unnoticed by the nearly four million people who visit each year.
These sites represent a wide range of human activity across time. Evidence of conflict, settlement, and maritime activity is preserved in the archaeological record, from battlefields to shipwrecks. To help bring this hidden history to light, a partnership between the Florida Public Archaeology Network and the National Park Service was formed in 2011 to create a public archaeology program in the Fort Pickens Area. This effort resulted in a guided bicycle tour known as “Tour de Fort,” designed to promote awareness and appreciation of the area’s archaeological resources while also enhancing heritage tourism opportunities. The program combines an introductory presentation with a guided bicycle tour, providing participants with both context and firsthand experience of the landscape.
The bicycle route is approximately four miles in length and follows a circular path primarily following the Florida National Scenic Trail, beginning and ending at the same location for convenience. The full program, including both the presentation and the tour, lasts about two to two and a half hours.
A central theme throughout the tour is the importance of context. Artifacts are not valuable simply as objects, but for the information they provide about the people who used them and the environments in which they were found. By emphasizing this concept, the program highlights the threats posed by looting, development, and natural processes such as erosion. Protecting these sites ensures that they remain meaningful sources of knowledge for future generations.
The sites featured on the tour reflect the richness of the area’s history. Participants may encounter locations tied to military activity, early settlement, and maritime events, including shipwrecks that now form part of the underwater cultural landscape. Together, these sites illustrate how the Fort Pickens Area, and Pensacola, has been shaped by centuries of human interaction with this dynamic coastal environment.
“Tour de Fort” offers a unique way to experience Gulf Islands National Seashore, going beyond its natural beauty to explore the stories embedded within its sands. By combining recreation, education, and hands-on learning, the program reveals a deeper layer of the island, one that connects visitors not only to the past, but also to the ongoing efforts to preserve it.
You Might Also Like...
Pensacola Forts Stand Witness to History
I am a sucker for history. Last summer, I checked off a serious item on my bucket list when I visited the Mayan pyramids in Belize. I climbed to the top of a pyramid called the Sun God Tomb.
Historic Pensacola Hotspots
With over 460 years of history, Pensacola has countless tales to tell. Visitors seeking stories of 16th Century Spanish explorers, a prosperous English colony or momentous battles may be taken aback by the sheer volume of landmarks and historic outposts the city has to offer. Fortunately, the epic saga of Pensacola’s past can best be understood by visiting a few major hotspots.
Forts & Historic Sites
Here in Pensacola, we are lucky to have our own monuments to days gone past – actual structures that have witnessed the progress of history and changes in American culture.
