8 Fun Facts About Pensacola

As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, there is a lot to love about Pensacola. From beautiful beaches to outdoor music events, there is so much to enjoy. The city also has a lot of interesting history and notable features. Here are eight fun facts about Pensacola to keep in mind on your next trip through the city we call home.

It All Starts With History

While St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the U.S., Pensacola was actually settled six years earlier. In 1559, Spanish explorer Tristán de Luna y Arellano arrived with his fleet and began a settlement. De Luna was so taken with the potential of the location and the natural harbor that he reported to the Spanish Empire that his ships were safe and “the port is so secure that no wind can do them any damage.”

That post didn’t age well when a hurricane arrived in the night only a few months later and devastated the settlement. Along with hundreds of settlers killed, seven of the 10 Spanish ships and much of their cargo were lost in the storm, dooming the expedition and the settlement. Two years later, the settlement was abandoned and not returned to for over 100 years.

The City of Five Flags

Pensacola was eventually settled once again in 1698 and would go on to hold the title of the largest city in Florida for quite some time. While established by the Spanish, the city would change hands throughout the years in wars and land deals. Spanish, French, British, Confederate and U.S. flags have all flown over the city, earning it the “City of Five Flags” moniker.

Amazing History on Display

The America’s First Settlement Trail (A1S) is a three mile path through downtown Pensacola that highlights over 70 points of interest and 20 historic markers. The team at Jerry Pate Design is proud to have played a part in the design of this fun and educational celebration of Pensacola’s rich history. Sites from as early as 1756 are highlighted on the trail, which was completed in 2022. We will also be highlighting the 1778 waterline with historical markers along Main Street. 

Palafox Street

A special part of the A1S trail is Palafox Street, which was built in 1763 when the city was under British control. Originally named George Street after King George III, the street was renamed Calle de Palafox after Jose Robelledo de Palafox, the 1st Duke of Saragossa. Plaza Ferdinand was set aside as the public space in 1812, and now hosts seasonal celebrations that draw thousands of people.

Palafox Street has also played a part in more recent Pensacola history. In the latter part of the 20th century, downtown Pensacola had succumbed to the blight that plagued most major cities in the U.S. At the turn of the century, city planners began a program of investment and improvements. This brought businesses and visitors back to the area. As a result, Palafox Street has become a vibrant attraction. It even earned placement on the American Planning Association’s 10 Great Streets in America list. Efforts to preserve and improve the street’s historic architecture, promote local business and attract visitors continue to this day. At Jerry Pate Design, we are proud to play a part in the ongoing improvements, particularly in making the area more pedestrian friendly.

First Naval Air Station

In the early days of aviation, the United States Navy founded the nation’s first Navy air training school in Pensacola. Since its inception in 1914, Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola has become known as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation.” It has been an important training base for thousands of American and allied pilots. Notable graduates include John H. Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth in 1962, and Neil Armstrong, who was the first man to set foot on the moon in 1969.

Today, NAS Pensacola graduates nearly 60,000 students each year from various programs. It also serves as an exciting attraction for visitors. The National Naval Aviation Museum showcases over 4,000 artifacts and 150 restored aircraft. Fort Barrancas, the Barrancas National Cemetery and the beautiful A.C. Read Golf Course are also popular attractions. To top it off, the Blue Angels wow visitors with practice sessions over the airbase from March to November.

Birthplace of a Groundbreaker

An additional Pensacola aviation fact is that General Daniel “Chappie” James was born in Pensacola on February 11, 1920. He would go on to excel as a member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. James also flew missions in Korea and Vietnam. He later held the post of Assistant Secretary of Defense. In 1975, he became the first African American four-star Air Force General. His childhood home on Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive now serves as a museum and the new Pensacola Bay Bridge is named after him.

A First in Golf

The color barrier was also broken by Lee Elder when he won the 1974 Monsanto Open held in Pensacola. He claimed his trophy inside the same clubhouse he was barred from entering only six years earlier because of his race. The win earned him a place as the first African American to play in the Masters Tournament in Augusta.  

A View From the Lighthouse

Another significant historical landmark on NAS Pensacola is the Pensacola Lighthouse, first illuminated on New Year’s Day in 1859. The lighthouse survives today, but has had a tumultuous history. Union cannon fire struck the lighthouse just two years after its inauguration. In 1874, its metal fixtures melted when it was struck by lightning. The repaired lighthouse was then struck again only one year later. In 1885 the lantern was damaged by a flock of ducks and in 1886 by an earthquake. Eleven different keepers managed the lighthouse from 1863 to 1886, with most of them being fired for drunkenness or neglect. This fraught history has led the Pensacola Lighthouse to become known as one of the most haunted lighthouses in the country.

The distinctive black and white color scheme of the Pensacola Lighthouse provides contrast to  brightly lit clouds. It is visible from miles away. Likewise, a climb up the 177 steps rewards visitors with a spectacular view for miles in every direction.

Pensacola Has a Lot to Offer

We’ve only scratched the surface of interesting fun facts about Pensacola. The history alone is worth many days of exploration. And, that is to say nothing of the rich culture and natural beauty that pervade the city. We hope you can pay a visit to uncover some of the exceptional wonder of this beautiful city.