History & Heritage

Explore America's first European settlement.

In 1559, Spanish Conquistador Don Tristan De Luna washed ashore, dubbing Pensacola America’s First Settlement.

Since then, five flags have flown over the bayside city, making way for a melting pot of people, culture, food, and more. Read below for hands-on history activities, museums, exhibits, sites, and more.

History-Related Activities

American’s 1st Settlement Trail

Follow this three-mile marked path through downtown and the Historic District and learn the fascinating story of how Pensacola developed into the city you see today.

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Colonial Archaeological Trail

Follow these open-air archeology exhibits highlighting Pensacola's colonial past.

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History Museums & Exhibits

Naval Aviation Museum

Experience hands-on history at the National Naval Aviation Museum located on board NAS Pensacola. See more than 4,000 artifacts and over 150 beautifully restored aircraft.

National Naval Aviation Museum

Pensacola Museum of History

Historic Pensacola's flagship museum, is housed in the three-story Mediterranean Revival architecture of the former Pensacola City Hall and was built in 1907.

Pensacola Museum of History

Pensacola Children’s Museum

Play through Pensacola's 450-year history at this museum geared for kids, and designed to have interactive, imaginative, and educational play for all ages.

The Pensacola Children's Museum
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Insider History Insights

From haunted lighthouses to five flags, find local insight and behind-the-scenes tips into all things history.

Explore a Melting Pot of Multicultural Experiences

Pensacola is called the “City of Five Flags” because five governments have ruled here, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Our culture is a jambalaya of flavors – Native American, African, Latin, European and Asian – each adding to the richness of our shared heritage.

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Escape into a Pensacola Museum

Visitors come to Pensacola every year for a getaway. And who can blame them? Our beaches are breathtaking. Downtown is one of the most vibrant and fastest growing hubs along the Gulf Coast region. People may not realize, however, that the museums in Pensacola are a great escape too – an escape into inspiring history filled with unique people.

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

You're driving east on Zarragossa 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.

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