3/27/2025: This was my favorite part of the historical tour downtown. This piece is a guided tour…read more Aiden was very detailed and had a full knowledge of the history of Pensacola. We started in a home built in 1805, then went to the oldest church in Florida built in 1832, then saw 2 additional homes. One was from 1871 and the other from 1890. I don't want to give too much away in my review, so the best thing I can suggest is to not miss this part! When Aiden detailed the past for us, he used words as current descriptions and like he was the one who was performing the daily tasks. It was a nice touch. To see how people lived long ago is amazing. When you walk into the area of the first home, you'll see a woman tending the garden, a man wood working, a woman playing the flute, and another woman playing the violin. It was like a little play. I've been vacationing in Pensacola since 1975 when I was 2 months old. I love the beach but this is the first time I saw the history it holds. Very impressed. The guided tour takes about an hour. You can only see these homes and the church by purchasing a ticket for the tour. It's a bundle ticket that also gets you into the self guided museums. $12 for adults. Highly recommend!

The most adorable street here in The City of 5 Flags, Adams St, sits Pensacola's gorgeous little…read moreHistoric Village. Anchored by the tall white steeple of the old Christ Church, also known as "Christ Church" which was built in 1832. It's one of the oldest surviving church buildings in Florida & has the cutest little cottage on the planet right behind it. Services/events are still held there & you can actually rent the Church & cottage for weddings/events. Historically, in 1822 Pensacola had just recently been acquired by the United States and with this acquisition, came a surge of missionaries. In 1828, Father Ralph Williston arrived in Pensacola & with some of the town's Protestants supporting him, Williston acquired a charter & the property to build Christ Church. It is Gothic revival, absolutely gorgeous, has a long torrid history that is worth a read & is def a must visit. Also the best preserved example of post Civil War Classical Revival architecture in the Pensacola Historic District is the Yellow "Dorr House" built by Clara Barkley Dorr in 1871 for her & her five children. Her sister in law, "Clara Dorr Moreno" was named after her, as she was part of the Moreno family that lived across the street. The Moreno 'shotgun' cottage that stands there today was built by Don Francisco Moreno for his daughter LaPearle, one of the youngest of his 27 chidren by three wives. The house was a gift for LaPearle on the eve of her marriage to Octavius Smith. It contained no kitchen, as the newlyweds took their meals in the main Moreno home which once stood on the very same lot. A great deal of Pensacola's heritage began with the Spanish Moreno men who rebuilt the Spanish population here in Pensacola, following the British departure of 1781. Local Legendary Spaniard "Don Francisco Moreno" is rumored to have been Pensacola's wealthiest man. Some reports suggest that "the Don" became the community's primary banker. True to Spanish Pirate style, strictly dealing in gold, that he hid under his bed, or maybe, somewhere X? That is the "Key" question. There is also the local Legendary Pirate stories of "Billy Bowlegs" who preyed & pillaged booty from the Spanish Conquistadors who shipped through the Gulf of Mexico here, until 1838. Bowlegs is said to have stored hundreds of thousands worth of silver & gold booty on his personal schooner. Eventually rumored, to have hid his vast Pirate treasure of gold & silver on a sandy island off the northern Gulf Coast. and/or on "Perdido Key." AKA The "lost KEY." As I have wrote about this before, Pensacola has recently been discovered, to be the VERY FIRST established city in modern America. The City of 5 flags, historical era, begins with the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors who sailed into the bay in the 15th century. Six years BEFORE Spanish Conquistadors explorers arrived in St Augustine, Florida, in 1565. In 1559 Tristan de Luna & his mateys established the very first settlement at Pensacola Bay, the first multi-year European settlement, in what is now the continental United States of America. Abandoned for many years, in the late 17th century, the Spanish Conquistadors returned to find a more developed Pensacola, they battened down the hatches to hornswoggling an outpost, from which to defend their claims to Spanish Florida. Pensacola's idyllic, strategic but isolated "KEY" position, combined with the continued European rivalries playing out their "wars" in North America, lead to Pensacola changing hands among the Western powers a number of times. At these different times over the years, it was held by the British, the Spanish, the French, the United States & the Confederate States of America. Hence, the city of 5 flags. The Historic Village of Pensacola, AKA Pirate'cola, is def full of intriguing history. It's nine acres located exactly, in the original Spanish & British forts, in downtown Pensacola. I highly recommend you purchase a "One Ticket, Seven Days to Explore" ticket that enables you to leisurely visit all of the museums, participate in self-guided tours of all the historic homes. And you can even interact with period-dressed living history interpreters at some of the buildings. What I find most fascinating about Historic Pensacola Village is; every door, from the Dorr house to the Moreno Cottage to the 1810 Watson house, the street flags, even the entrance sign, has a giant symbol of a "Key." Perhaps it's just a symbol, a symbol of a "lost key." Or maybe, it's a reminder of a "key" to a Spanish Pirate treasure lost, lost here on the Gulf of Mexico. Lost on "Perdido Key." Highest Recommendations

3/27/2025: Small art museum in the historic district of Pensacola. I'm not a big art gallery…read moreperson, but this self guided tour was part of the full ticket we purchased, so we checked it out while we were there. It took us about 25 minutes to see all the exhibits. It's worth the time to check it out.

Small museum with very limited art. More than half of the art is by one artist. Might as well call…read moreit the Clyde Art Museum. Waste of time, 0/10.

3/27/2025: Good information about Pensacola and laid out nicely with displays, 3 stories, and…read moreseparate rooms. We bought the ticket for the full historic district tours. It was $12 per adult ($7 for kids) and you can use the ticket for 7 days. I reviewed each piece separately for a better understanding of what you see in each section. I've been vacationing in Pensacola Beach since 1975 when I was a baby. I'm glad I finally got some history of the place I love so much!

Went here for a networking mixer and had a blast. A lot of cool artifacts are here and Trader Jon's…read moreexhibit was very nice. They served us passed hors d'oeuvres and it was a selection of wines, beer, and a specialty cocktail at the bar. Customer service was great and the food/drinks were very good! Just a back story on Trader Jon's for those who may not know - For decades, Trader Jon's was the watering hole of choice for the U.S. Navy pilots who trained in Pensacola, known far and wide for the eccentricities of owner Martin "Trader Jon" Weissman and his massive collection of Navy memorabilia. Again, my experience is a little different than a normal visit in any given day. I didn't have to pay an entry fee and I was with a large group for a private even. A unique spot for sure, so drop in if you can! We walked over from our hotel (2-min walk) and centrally located downtown where a lot of bars/restaurants are.

A really good museum, I can't believe I found this hidden gem and it's FREE. There is a huge anchor…read moreright next to it, perfect for pictures. You cannot miss this spot when you visit Pensacola. There is a ton of information on History of early Florida and all the excavations and artifacts found from early settlers and colonies.

From the owner: Located inside the Florida Public Archaeology Network headquarters in downtown Pensacola, the…read moreDestination Archaeology Resource Center is an archaeology museum open to the public. Inside you will learn about the amazing archaeological sites that you can visit and experience throughout the state. Our exhibits include displays about both land and underwater archaeology sites. We showcase heritage sites open to the public within the eight regions of the FPAN with traditional and interactive displays, including touchscreens, tablet computers and artifacts. Additionally, our museum hosts a variety of free exhibits, events, and programs throughout the year.

3/27/2025: Cute displays of old time businesses in Pensacola (or everyday America years ago). This…read morewas part of the ticket we purchased at the museum of history. They only have a few displays, but it was worth the time. Took us about 20 minutes to view.

I went here for an introduction session of the past mayor, Ashton Hayward and current UWF…read morepresident, Martha D. Saunders. I absolutely love the set up of this museum! It's a reconstructed 1890s era streetscape. On exhibit are historic shops featuring toys, hardware, music, households, and leather goods. An interesting collection of horse drawn buggies and an antique local trolley car are also part of this nostalgic recreation of yesteryear. The University of West Florida Sea3D Additive Manufacturing Laboratory is located inside the Museum of Commerce. Prices are $12 for adults, $11 for AAA, Military, and 65+, and UWF alumni, kids 3-14 are $7 and under 3 are free. Hours of operation are 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday. If you are interested in taking a deeper dive into the historic side of Pcola, make sure you drop by. A very nostalgic feeling for sure.

I didn't get to visit the Voices of Pensacola during regular visitor hours so please take this…read morereview as a special event viewing in Feb 2018. I attended the Pensacola Film Festival viewings of some 2018 Oscar Nominated Films. My guests and I came early to pick good seats and wonder around. The event itself was very nice and I was happy to join the Film Group putting it on. The admission table and one film were in the front room. It had informative facts about Pensacola and the area on the walls. There was a book area that was interesting. Our film was in the next room, this was the room about Civil Rights and other important movements in the South. I really enjoyed looking at this room. This is were I ended my viewing of the building. There is an upstairs research room. What I learned about the venue is they showcase the rich histories of the multiple cultures around the Pensacola area. I know I would very much like to explore this venue again next time I am in the area.

Can't miss this museum with the train outside! I absolutely enjoyed how this museum is laid out!…read more The exhibits are all in one huge room with partitions. The building was built in 1884 for the Pensacola Ice Company. I walked in from the area out back where Julee Cottage is. The main entrance is on Zaragoza St. It felt as natural entering from there as from the front. The restrooms are near the rear entrance. I was a little fascinated by the different types of bricks! In the sawmill, you can push buttons to learn about the machines. In the fishing exhibit, you can see the gear they used as well as what fish they caught. When you open the door to go out to the train, there is a recording with a train whistle... it's pretty cool! There is the T.R. Miller Engine #12 & a Caboose. Unfortunately, you can't get too close-up of a look inside either. But you can see plenty of information about the railroad industry inside. I bought the Unified Admission Ticket which permits admission to all museums in the Historic Trust museum complex for seven (7) days. With my AAA, it cost $9 in Aug. of 2022. For the number of places you can visit, it is a great inexpensive way to learn about Pensacola's history! These museums are closed on Mondays! Come check it out and also the other museums nearby! I visited this museum, Museum of Commerce, the Pensacola Historic Village (Julee Cottage, John Appleyard Storytelling Cottage, the USO house exhibit), Museum of History, and the Museum of Art.

Great Hands-On Museum exhibits with many pictires plaques demonstrating how things work, why we had…read morethem & how they have progressed through time. Includes a real steam engine from 1923.

Very welcoming & knowledgeable staff walk you through & explain how things worked & why they were…read moreused from the early 19th century. Great walkthroughs & beautiful landscaping.