Unlocking our past to preserve our future.
Norman Haines Photography
Special Events
Norman Haines Photography
Galvez Project
In March 2016 Pensacola Heritage Foundation joined in a collaboration with other heritage and history organizations to construct a statue of Bernado de Galvez. On March 18, 1781, Gálvez led the naval charge into the well-defended Pensacola Bay, a feat of daring that would earn him a royal patent adding the words “Yo Solo” (“I alone”) to his coat-of-arms. His forces landed near Bayou Chico and began a steady advance towards the city’s defenses, which included Fort George on Gage Hill (Palafox Street) and its two advance redoubts. After weeks of siege, a Spanish mortar detonated the powder magazine at the Queen’s Redoubt on May 8, devastating the British fortification. Gálvez accepted the surrender of British Governor John Campbell and claimed West Florida for Spain. By taking Pensacola, Gálvez stripped Britain of a key foothold on the Gulf Coast, which in turn benefited the American Colonists in their quest for independence. General Gálvez was named a "Great Floridian" in 2012. In 2014, the United States Congress conferred an Honorary Citizenship on Gálvez, citing him as a hero of the Revolutionary War.
The monument is a life-size bronze statue of Gálvez astride his horse and facing the site of Fort George, his hat raised in victory.
Created by retired Navy captain Robert Rasmussen and his daughter Kathryn R. Vincze, the $450,000 statue was unveiled and dedicated at the intersection of Wright and Palafox Streets on May 8, 2018 as part of the celebration of Galvez Day.
The event drew several hundred people, including Spanish dignitaries from Gálvez's birthplace, the Spanish city of Macharaviaya.
General Bernardo de Gálvez
PHF awarded George Washington Honor Medal
On November 4th, Pensacola Heritage Foundation was presented with an award by the Pensacola chapter of Founding Forward, a national organization dedicated to informing and engaging citizens through transformational educational experiences grounded in American history. The citation for the award reads as follows:
'The Pensacola Heritage Foundation, established in 1964, is the oldest historic preservation organization in our area. It continues to pursue it's mission of preserving and protecting Pensacola's rich history through educational programs, community activities and its regular lecture series.
This lecture series is an important aspect of Pensacola Heritage Foundation and regularly attracts about 100 attendees for its Tuesday lunch programs. Presenters include historians, college professors, archaeologists, and others. Pensacola is an area with a rich history; in 1559 it was the first attempted settlement in the new world. Understanding the historical background and varied way of life in our area is the focus of the lecture series. Dr Norm Haines is the 2025 featured speaker with additional speakers throughout the schedule. The
list of topics and presenters is released four months at a time on the website.'
Other local award recipient winners for 2025 include:
Petty Officer Reneau, USN for community service
Johnny Ardis, Open Books Prison Book Project
Sally Bergosh, Health and Hope Clinic
Mark Charles Goolsby, Educator Award
Kyle Kaye, 'Soctober' Changes Lives One Sock at a Time, School Award
Dr Donna Jacobi Pruett, Community Advocate - Family Promise Bed Race
Dianna Hayden and Dr Patty Crisp, Commemorating the Legacy of the USS Indianapolis
Cooper Nolen, Out of the Blue Denim
Pensacola Historic Preservation Society, Quina House Preservation
More information about Founding Forward can be found at https://foundingforward.org/
60th Anniversary Party
2024 marks 60 years that that the Pensacola Heritage Foundation has been working to preserve, protect and educate about our rich history and heritage.
Early organizational years were successful and notable because of our strong working partnerships. Those included the City of Pensacola - especially Parks and Recreation , local financial institutions , news media, architects and other influential business leaders as well as Junior League and other civic efforts related to historic reservation.
Over the years PHF has had continued contacts and cooperation with historically minded groups laying the foundation for the North Hill Association and the Preservation Board concept for the Historic Village.
Focus was on notable and sustainable activities such as building restoration of the Dorr House, the Barkley House, the Mary Turner Rule Cottage, 4th of July at the Barkley House and the decades long, out door music and social event - Evenings in Old Seville.
Our 60th celebration emphasized accomplishments of the past with excited anticipation for PHF going . Some of those attending included…
PHF Presents awards to escambia county school district history fair contestants
For the past several years, the Pensacola Heritage Foundation has presented the Junior Heritage Keeper Award, along with a $100 prize, to selected Escambia County School District History Fair contestants. PHF judges choose the recipients based on the strength of their presentations across various categories.
Several past awardees have gone on to place first in state competitions and as high as third at the national level.
This year, PHF increased the number of Junior Heritage Keeper Awards to four. In addition to these awards, contestants are also evaluated by school district judges for official History Fair rankings.
This year’s Junior Heritage Keeper Award recipients are:
Damien Peaden
SHP-5: Senior Historical Paper
Revolution: How Inventions Created the Modern World
Jacob Ramsey
SIP-1: Senior Individual Performance
McCarthy and AntiCommunism: a Conversation Between Two Friends
Also placed 1st in division for Escambia County.
Graeme Harrell
SID-1: Senior Individual Documentaries
If They Can Move Fruit, We Can Move Bodies
Clayton White & Josh Ibrahim
SGD-2: Senior Group Documentary
From Rubber to Restaurants to Ratings
Tours of Historic Homes and Architecture
In the past, we toured the 1895 Charles Hill Turner Cottage owned by Lisa and Tommi Lyter. Contractor Nanette Chandler conducted the tour and explained the various techniques that she and her crew used to renovate this house and restore it to its former beauty. The tour was followed by a lunch at Seville Quarter.
North Hill Tour
On June 25, 2022 we had a tour of the amazing 120 year old historical home of Melanie Nichols and Jeff Dearth, complete with a piano player and refreshments for our enjoyment. PHF has plans for more of these member benefits. The summer is hot and so is PHF.
Brick Street Tour
Our first Brick Street Tour was held on January 8, 2022. PHF Members visited houses in Old East Hill and heard from the owners how they renovated their homes while retaining their historical beauty. Afterwards, we had a lovely brunch at Nick's Boathouse. We plan to offer more tours like this in the near future.
River Delta Adventure
Fifty years after the Atlantic slave trade was outlawed in the United States, (1808), the sailing vessel, Clotilda attempted to bring enslaved Africans ashore near Mobile, Alabama where she was built. The Pensacola Heritage Foundation recently chartered a boat tour of the Mobile/Tensaw River Delta that included a trip up-river to the final resting site of the Clotilda.
Importing slaves was a capital offense. In order to evade capture and prosecution, the wealthy owners and captain of the Clotilda attempted to hide their crime by taking the ship up-river. Her illegal cargo was unloaded and the ship was burned and sunk. Tales have been told, stories written and documentaries made about this ill-fated trip, but members of the Pensacola Heritage Foundation were able to visit the still submerged wreck site.
Our boat captain, Chris Harris and Blakely State Park Ranger, Brian Gilchrist were extremely knowledgeable and helpful as we experienced the beauty, wildlife and wildness of this hidden river delta. Along the way we learned about the state park itself, Revolutionary and Civil War history of the park and were able to visit the site of the 1993 Amtrak train derailment - what went wrong and what safety measures have been implemented as a result.
All-in-all, a most rewarding tour. Join us for the next one.
