Winter in Pensacola is Fabulous!
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Explorers first put the Pensacola area on the map 440 years ago, starting a long, rich, diverse heritage. Today, you can enjoy that multicultural legacy at many historical attractions.Pensacola got its name from the Panzacola Indians who greeted the first Spanish explorers in 1559, when Don Tristan de Luna led 1,400 colonists to what is now Pensacola Beach. Then, a major hurricane came along and sank ships, drowned livestock, and prompted them to flee. Although the Panzacola Indians are now extinct, Creek Indians still live in the area and celebrate their traditions. More conquistadores arrived in 1698. Spanish soldiers, aided by slaves, built a fort at what is now the Naval Air Station on Pensacola Bay. That settlement was unearthed in 1998 and opened to the public...there, one can imagine what life was like over 300 years ago.
Over the years Pensacola changed hands often - among Spain, France, England, the United States and the Confederacy. During the Civil War, Rebels held Fort McRee and Union troops held Fort Pickens.
The Navy shipyard, established
in 1825, evolved into an air station, propelling Pensacola
into the forefront of naval aviation.
Fort Pickens... All those bricks! More than 21 million. Most of them were made right across the bay in Pensacola and barged to the site where the Fort stands today.The Fort was completed in 1834 and used until WWII, when modern weapons made traditional coastal defense obsolete. Fort Pickens has changed over the years, so take the self-guided tour and peel back the layers of history. It will lead you to cannon emplacements, powder magazines, and show you where "Bastion D" ISN'T... that corner of the fort was destroyed when a warehouse fire reached a magazine holding four tons of black powder. The 1899 explosion showered debris over 11/2 miles, reaching Fort Barrancas at the naval air station on the mainland!
The Navy shipyard, established in 1825, evolved into an air station, propelling Pensacola into the forefront of naval aviation. This affiliation produced many distinguished military soldiers, sailors and aviators, including the first African-American to become a four-star general in the Air Force, Chappie James of Pensacola, who flew 100 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. Another glimpse of the past is offered at St. Michael's Cemetery, where slaves and nobility alike are buried.
Pensacola's past also comes alive in the Historic Pensacola Village, the Pensacola Historical Museum, the Pensacola Historic District, and The Civil War Soldiers Museum, all located in the downtown historic district. But wait...there's more! Forts at Santa Rosa Island and the Naval Air Station also have displays, as does the National Museum of Naval Aviation.
Sports you say? The Blue Angels Classic, played at The Moors Golf and Lodging, is pro golf at its best. Tour players and fans praise The Moors for its course conditions and spectator-friendliness. The Blue Angel Classic also has a rich history of thrilling finishes and is a perfect event for the entire family. The annual event is an exciting array of professional golfers, with many commitments to charities on the local, state and national level. But you can find affordable golf packages at over a dozen golf courses in the area. If tennis is your racket (sorry), there are more than 30 courts available in the area. The sports calendar is full year-round with numerous 5K runs, marathons and triathlons. And for the bike enthusiast, there are over 20 miles of paved bike trails in the Pensacola area.
