Why Pensacola should be in history books – a telling of America before St. Augustine and Jamestown

In 1559, a Spanish expedition led by Tristan de Luna y Arellano brought 1,500 settlers in 11 ships from Veracruz, Mexico, to Pensacola to begin the Spanish colonization of the northern Gulf Coast. Shortly after Luna and his expedition arrived, the colony was struck by a hurricane, sinking many of their ships and devastating food supplies. After two years, the remnants of the colony were rescued by Spanish ships and returned to Mexico. The Luna settlement inhabited Pensacola from 1559 to 1561, which predates the Spanish settlement in St. Augustine, Florida, by six years, and the English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia, by 48 years. This makes Pensacola the site of the first European settlement in the United States. Modern day, you can see De Luna’s ship anchor at the Pensacola Museum of History and learn all about his time in Pensacola. Below are several additional historical touchpoints in Pensacola.

America’s 1st Settlement Trail

The America’s First Settlement Trail is a three-mile marked path through downtown Pensacola and the Pensacola Historic District. Along this trail are twenty stops and over seventy points of interest. In addition, you will see artifacts from 1559 and sites from as early as 1756 when the Spanish built Fort San Miguel in what is now downtown Pensacola. Tour over 464 years of history and learn the fascinating story of how Pensacola developed into the city you see today.

Historic Pensacola Village

Families can explore Pensacola’s Historic Village and experience the rich heritage of America’s first European settlement. Historic Pensacola encompasses 8.5 acres and 28 properties located within the footprints of the original Spanish and British forts in Downtown Pensacola. Guests can participate in guided and self-guided tours of historic homes and interact with period-dressed historic interpreter.

Naval Air Station Pensacola & Military History

Pensacola is home to the beloved Blue Angels and the Naval Aviation Museum. The National Naval Aviation Museum boasts more than 4,000 artifacts and over 150 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviation. From the thrill of Flight Simulators, to big screen drama on the Giant Digital Screen Theater, to Blue Angels practices -- there is so much to explore at the world’s third-largest and Florida’s most-visited aviation museum. You can even catch free air shows by the Blue Angels! Outside of the museum, history lovers can marvel at the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum at one of the tallest lighthouses in Florida, or explore Fort Barrancas, one of Pensacola many forts.

African American History in Pensacola

One of the clearest examples of the influence Black Americans have had on Pensacola can be found in the Belmont-Devilliers neighborhood. In the time of segregation, Belmont-DeVilliers was the commercial and cultural hub of Pensacola’s Black community. Known locally as The Blocks, the neighborhood has been home to many Black-owned businesses, restaurants and music venues, including Abe’s 506 Club where such musical legends as Louis Armstrong, James Brown, Ray Charles, B.B. King and Aretha Franklin all performed. Today, the Belmont-Devilliers district stays true to its history, filled with Black-owned restaurants that offer some of the best culinary offerings in Pensacola including Blue Dot Barbecue serving simple, delicious fall off the bone ribs and burgers while Five Sisters Blues Cafe cooks up classic southern soul food and delivers a swanky Sunday Jazz Brunch.

Just north of downtown Pensacola lives a museum completely dedicated to Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James, the first Black officer in the history of the United States military to attain a 4-star full general rank. The General Daniel Chappie James Museum of Pensacola, Inc., housed in Chappie’s childhood home, is listed on the National Register of Historical Places and offers programs designed to tell the story of Chappie James as well as highlight the focus on aviation education.

Pensacola’s Fort Pickens, one of the few Union-occupied forts in the south during the American Civil War, was accepted into the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom in 2020. The site, operated by the Gulf Islands National Seashore, was a beacon in 1861 and 1862 for freedom seekers. The fort was also defended by members of the 25th U.S. Colored Troops in 1864. Tours of the fort are available for both travelers and natives looking to be immersed in the historic and culturally significant site.

For more information on history in Pensacola and if any of this should be of interest to you, please email pr@visitpensacola.com.