Brought to you by the Pensacola Maritime Preservation Society, an organization dedicated to telling Pensacola's Maritime Story. New Maritime Museum for Pensacola! Pensacola was chosen to be the home of the new Admiral Jack Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and Research Center! CLICK HERE for more information! |
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| In the Year 1559 Don Tristan De Luna sailed 11 ships into
what was later to be known as Pensacola Bay. After two years and a hurricane
that destroyed all but three of his ships soon after he arrived,
he sailed away a broken and beaten man. Nature had bested the small
colony and the Spanish did not return to colonize Pensacola until 1698. Thus,
Pensacola is the FIRST settlement and the Gulf Coast is rightly the FIRST
coast of what was to become the United States that was settled by the Europeans. This early chapter in Pensacola's Maritime history is just today revealing some of its secrets with the discovery and excavation of what marine archeologists believe to be one of the 8 ships that were sunk by the hurricane of 1559. The Picture below shows the anchor being retrieved from this 1559 shipwreck by Brown Marine Service, Inc. assisting the University of West Florida Archeology Institute.  |
 Pensacola was chosen by Luna because of its natural deep water harbor. That natural harbor was to propel Pensacola to greatness in international ocean trade for much of the latter 19th and early 20th centuries. Pensacola gained international fame for its lumber and seafood exports. "Pensacola Pine" lumber was exported to all parts of the world and fish known as Red Snapper fed anticipating taste buds of the Northeast. A new audio page using the format known as "Real Audio" has been recently added for your pleasure. Please visit often and do visit our links page as I will be adding many links to Maritime History and information. |
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