From the 1500s with Love: Discover Pensacola, America’s First Settlement, During America’s 250th Anniversary

As the nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Pensacola offers a chance to explore a story that began centuries before 1776. Founded in 1559 as America’s First Settlement, Pensacola’s history began more than two centuries before the nation declared independence. Today, the Pensacola Bay Area invites visitors to explore more than 465 years of culture, resilience, and discovery, including historic landmarks and museums to the beaches, waterways, and neighborhoods that define the destination.

[Header photo courtesy of the University of West Florida POP: Murals]

Step Into History with These Local Attractions

Write a Love Letter to Pensacola

Through our From the 1500s, With Love campaign, we’re celebrating more than 250 years of history and the moments that make Pensacola so special. Maybe it was a beach sunset you still think about, a family vacation that became a yearly tradition, or the destination you chose to call home. Whatever your story looks like, we want to hear it. We’re inviting you to write your love letter to Pensacola in 500 words or less for a chance to win a Pensacola vacation for four valued at $2,500!

Write your love letter here and get a chance to win!

Explore History