Pensacola (Seville) Historic District
The Pensacola Historic District is a historic district located in Pensacola, Florida and is also known as the Seville Historic District. The district is within Bayfront Parkway, Tarragona, Cevallos, and Romana Streets. In the Pensacola Historic District, you can find Seville Square and the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum.
History
During British rule, Seville Square and Plaza Ferdinand were the parade grounds for the Fort of Pensacola. One of the earliest known European settlements in North America is just northeast of the Pensacola Historic District, on Pensacola Bay.
The Pensacola Historic District was established in the early 1960s when a group of local preservationists formed the Pensacola Heritage Foundation. The foundation, led by Mary Turner Rule, joined the National Trust and surveyed Seville Square Historic District, which was the neighborhood around Seville Square adjacent to Pensacola Bay. The Pensacola Heritage Foundation recognized the importance of Pensacola’s history and the need to preserve it, leading them to conduct research and submit paperwork to have the Pensacola Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The foundation purchased Dorr House, a historic home on the square, and restored it with their own labor, starting the preservation movement. Mary Rule and the Heritage Foundation convinced the city to restore the deteriorated square to its former glory. To encourage restoration, the group created a hometown Victorian picnic in the park, a festival, and An Evening in Old Seville Square. Mary Rule had the Pensacola Lighthouse listed on the National Register and helped create a state board which is now known as the N.W. Florida Preservation Board. The board’s function is to protect Pensacola’s history and the Seville Square Historic District. The city also established the Architecture Review board to protect Pensacola’s history locally.
Historic Pensacola is a collection of 29 historical museums and buildings located in the Pensacola Historic District and is managed by the UWF Historic Trust. Historic Pensacola can be found in downtown Pensacola, Florida and sits between Seville Square and Plaza Ferdinand VII. UWF staff, unpaid UWF students, and many volunteers work to keep the Historic Pensacola Village museum complex.
Visiting the Pensacola Historic District
You can get admission into the Pensacola Historic District for a week. Admission includes access to the entire complex and guided tours of many of the historic buildings, which can only be entered by visitors during the tour. The museum complex is open from Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Some buildings can be rented out for special occasions, such as the Old Christ Church, which is a popular spot for weddings, and the Museum of Commerce, which is popular for receptions and other events.
Some other buildings in the Pensacola Historic District include the Bowden Building, the Museum of Commerce, the Museum of Industry, Weaver’s Cottage, Lavalle House, Julee Cottage, Historic Pensacola’s Tivoli High House, and Pensacola Children’s Museum.
While you’re in town for the week visiting the Pensacola Historic District, hop on down the lane to Rock Bottom Fishing Charters! Fishing is a great way to get out on the water and have some fun. If you’re looking for something a little more scenic we also offer dolphin tours, where you’ll have the chance to see local wildlife, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks from out on the water.
