Pensacola justifiably calls itself "America’s First Place City," because, in 1559, it was the first area settled by Europeans in the United States. A natural deep-water harbor guarded by a barrier island made it a logical location for settlement, commerce and the establishment of a military presence to protect it. Pensacola is also known as the “City of Five Flags” which is a testament to its attractiveness and importance to the region over the centuries. At various times the flags of Spain, France, England, the Confederacy and finally the United States have flown over Pensacola.

In 1743, the first commercial export cargo left the Port of Pensacola, and consisted of pine, pitch products, and the wooden masts and spars for sailing ships. In 1821, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams ordered the building of forts as well as the Navy Yard at Pensacola which signaled the beginning of the Navy’s long association with the city and its people.

If you would like a quick history lesson that will take you from Pensacola’s roots to its present visit the Historic Pensacola Village right downtown in the historic district. You can tour a rare example of French Creole colonial architecture or the home of a free woman of color during the era of slavery. Seville Square offers the respite of a grassy park graced by a romantic gazebo. Nearby there are plenty of cafes and restaurants in which to refuel before tackling the many museums and historical points of interest located nearby. They include the Florida State Museum at 330 S. Jefferson, the Civil War Soldiers Museum at 108 S. Palafox and the Pensacola Historical Museum at 115 E. Zaragosa.

Located a short distance from downtown and on board NAS Pensacola you must take the time to see the National Museum of Naval Aviation which houses one of the three largest aviation museums in the world. It provides a stunning display of aircraft from the earliest days of naval flight to space travel. The museum also features two IMAX movies (one of which takes viewers on a ride with the Navy’s famous Blue Angels precision flight demonstration team).