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.

The truth is, with over 450 years of history to lean on, naturally, Pensacola offers endless grounds to explore and stories to experience around the city that is the site of our nation’s very first settlement.

That’s why millions of people are drawn here every year to delve into our city’s vast and complicated history. There’s something about touring old military forts and historic homes that speak to us as humans. Sometimes, when we learn how our ancestors lived and survived, we learn something about ourselves too.

Check out these must-see Pensacola area historical sites!

1Fort Pickens — Gulf Islands National Seashore

1400 Fort Pickens Road Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 934-2600

Fort Pickens is one of four military forts designed to protect Pensacola in the 1800s. Located on Pensacola Beach on the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Pickens is accessible by foot and boat and is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Entrance fees are required and collected upon admittance into the park. The Fort Pickens area is anchored by the historic landmark and offers many recreational activities including fishing both from the shore and the pier, exploring trails and the fort, birdwatching, camping and so much more. A visitor information center is located at the west end of the island and includes a history museum on the area.

Entrance Fees

Entrance fees are required and collected at the following areas of Gulf Islands National Seashore: Fort Pickens Area, Opal Beach at the Santa Rosa Area, Okaloosa Area, Fort Barrancas Area, and Perdido Key Area. All Interagency America the Beautiful passes are accepted for entry into these areas.

One hundred percent of the fees collected at national parks are used by the National Park Service for the improvement and maintenance of park facilities and programming. Eighty percent of the fees collected here are used to replace and improve facilities throughout this park. Free Entrance Days in your national parks.

Per person (pedestrian, cyclist, etc.)............................$15
Motorcycle....................................................................$20
Private vehicle (capacity <15).......................................$25
Private vehicle (capacity >15)......$7 per person; up to $25

Commercial Groups

Per vehicle (capacity 6 or less)....$25 plus; $10 per person
Per vehicle (capacity 7 to 25)........................................$40
Commercial Bus (capacity 26 or more).......................$100

An entrance pass is good for one to seven days at all locations. Interagency passes waive all entrance fees. Frequent visitors may be interested in the park's annual pass which provides access to the national seashore during normal operating hours for twelve months from the date of purchase. Educational groups should visit our Educational Programs page for educational fee waivers.

Park Annual Pass..........................................................$45

2Fort Barrancas (Gulf Islands National Seashore)

3182 Taylor Rd Pensacola, FL 32508 (850) 934-2600

Fort Barrancas is high on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Pensacola Bay, Fort Barrancas stands as a monument to the legacy of America’s early homeland defense. Built with 6 million bricks, walls 4 feet thick and 20 feet high, Fort Barrancas was completed in 1844 and remains an example of military engineering and a marvel of human ingenuity.

****Beginning Oct. 1, Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola’s areas of public interest are closed until further notice. Installation areas of public interest – including the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) and the Pensacola Lighthouse and the National Parks Service’s Fort Barrancas – are closed.

Department of Defense (DoD) identification card holders will still be able to access the installation through either the Main Gate – at the south end of Navy Blvd. – or through the West Gate – at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway.****

3Pensacola Lighthouse

2081 Radford Blvd Pensacola, FL 32508 (850) 393-1561

Climb 177 steps up the historic Pensacola Lighthouse for one of the most beautiful views on the Gulf Coast. Built in 1859, the lighthouse is located on board NAS Pensacola, right across from the National Naval Aviation Museum.

The top of the tower offers stunning views of Pensacola Pass (where Pensacola Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico), three historic forts, the Pensacola skyline, and the historic Navy Yard. The fully restored Keepers' Quarters - built in 1869 - is home to the Richard C. Callaway museum, which houses numerous exhibits on local history and the lighthouse itself.

The Pensacola Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

4Historic Pensacola

330 South Jefferson St Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 595-5985

Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

We invite you to explore Historic Pensacola and experience the rich heritage of America’s first multi-year European settlement.

Historic Pensacola encompasses eight and a half acres and 28 properties located within the footprints of the original Spanish and British forts in downtown Pensacola.

Our “One Ticket, Seven Days to Explore” ticketing enables you to leisurely visit all of the museums, participate in guided and self-guided tours of historic homes and interact with period-dressed living history interpreters. Come be a part of history being brought to life!

Admission:

Adults: $12

Seniors 65+, Active Military & Dependents, AAA Members, Pensacola Museum of Art Members, and UWF Alumni Association Members: $11

Children (3-14): $7

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Cardholder: Free for up to four individuals per EBT card

Members: FREE

UWF Students: Free with Nautilus card.

Buy Tickets here! Tickets provide admission to the Pensacola Museum of History, Historic Pensacola Village, and the Pensacola Museum of Art.

5Emanuel Point Shipwreck

Emanuel Point Pensacola, FL 32503

Emanuel Point Shipwrecks marker is located in Wayside Park at the Visitor Information Center. In August 1559, eleven ships under the command of Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano sailed into Pensacola Bay, then called Ochuse, to establish a new colony for Spain. Intended to stake a claim on the northern Gulf coast, the settlement was planned to become a city on the edge of the empire. A thousand colonists brought livestock, personal possessions, tools, and materials to build their new town. A month after they arrived, a powerful hurricane struck the fledgling colony and sank most of the ships, which were being used as floating warehouses for supplies and food. Survivors eventually were evacuated and the Spanish did not return to Pensacola Bay until 1698. In 1992, archaeologists with the State of Florida discovered one of Luna's ships off Emanuel Point near the entrance to Bayou Texar. A second ship was found by University of West Florida archaeologists nearby in 2006. Investigations revealed remnants of the doomed colony, ceramic and metal storage containers and cooking pots, including bones from cows and pigs, stone cannonballs and the wheel of a gun carriage, pieces of a suit of armor, wooden tool handles and eating utensils, and even remains of a ship's cat. The rest of Luna's fleet waits to be discovered.

6Belmont- DeVillers

321 N De Villiers St, #301 Pensacola, FL 32501

Belmont-DeVilliers is a historic neighborhood located in Pensacola, Florida. It is known for its rich history, cultural significance, and vibrant community. The neighborhood is situated just west of downtown Pensacola, between Belmont Street and DeVilliers Street.

7Plaza Ferdinand

East Government St and, S Palafox St Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 436-5670

Plaza Ferdinand, a park with a very rich and colorful history, is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Named for King Ferdinand VII of Spain (reign 1813-1833), the land that is now the Plaza was originally given by the Spanish throne to Don Manuel Gonzalez for his services as a farmer, rancher, businessman, military advisor, and political representative of Spain. Gonzalez would later donate the land to the City of Pensacola. In its early days, the Plaza was used as a parade ground for the British fort. The Plaza was also the center of town life during the Colonial era. The cession of Florida to the United States from Spain occurred at the Plaza on July 17, 1821. It was here that Andrew Jackson was sworn in as first Territorial Governor in the Plaza. A bust of Jackson now stands at the spot where he was inaugurated. An obelisk monument stands at the center of the Plaza in memory of William D. Chipley, who was instrumental in bringing the L & N Railroad to Pensacola and points west. A fountain thought to be a replica of one in Seville, Spain was placed on the site in 1909 after local citizens and school children raised funds to pay for it.

8Plaza de Luna

900 S Palafox St Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 436-5670

Plaza de Luna is a waterfront park located at the south end of Palafox Pier and is named after the Spanish Conquistador Don Tristan De Luna. The park is best known for the children’s splash fountain and a life-size statue of De Luna. Other features include areas for fishing, a walking path along the waterfront, concessions/vending; and parking.

Interesting Fact: Don Tristan De Luna, along with 1,500 colonists, first sailed into what is now Pensacola Bay on August 15, 1559 to establish the first European colony in North America. The settlement was abandoned after two years due to damage and hardships sustained by a violent hurricane that struck within days of their landing.

Insider History Insights

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.

Five Historical Stops While Visiting Downtown Pensacola

When thinking of historic cities in Florida, many people quickly reference St. Augustine, Ybor City or Key West. Yet, locals know, one of the most historic cities in the Southeast is Pensacola. In Downtown Pensacola alone, there are more than a dozen historical sites to visit. On your next visit, here are five historic stops just to get you started.

Step Back in Time at Historic Pensacola Village & Explore Hands-On History

You’re driving east on Zarragoza Street in Downtown Pensacola, you notice that as soon as you cross Tarragona Street, it’s like you are driving back in time. You officially entered Historic Pensacola Village — where it’s perfectly normal to see a man in colonial costume carving the better part of a musket, or a costumed woman cooking over a fire.

Historic Village , Baking with children and employees

The Pensacola Lighthouse – Shining a Light on Pensacola’s History

Since 1859, the Pensacola Lighthouse has been guiding ships safely through Pensacola Pass. It has survived multiple hurricanes, endured shots from a cannon during the Civil War and has even sustained an earthquake, making it almost legendary. Over the years, the lighthouse has held many keepers who made their living walking up and down the 177 steps, day in and day out, lugging heavy oil cans all the way.