Pensacola Beach, Florida
A 10-FOOT CAST-CONCRETE predated St. Augustine by six years miles of unsullied, undeveloped
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cross is the inspiring sight that and Jamestown, Virginia, which white sand beaches and the emerald
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greets visitors to Pensacola Beach, dates to 1607. But just three months waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The
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Florida. It stands vigil on the south later, a hurricane killed hundreds of beach is unincorporated and has
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side of Fort Pickens Road and has people and destroyed the camp as a population of nearly 3,000. The
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withstood hurricanes that have well as several ships. A famine was land is bounded by a 1947 deed
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obliterated nearby dunes. Many the final straw for the ill-fated effort with the U.S. Department of the
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people wonder why and try to figure to bring civilization to the northern Interior. Its businesses and residents
out how. section of Florida’s Gulf Coast. are long-term leaseholders and not
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The cross commemorates the Today, Naval Air Station property owners.
first Christian mass held in the Pensacola, “the cradle of naval Popular attractions on Pensacola
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United States and was erected aviation,” sits on the site of the Beach are novelty houses, such
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by the Knights of Columbus in original settlement. Fort Pickens, as the UFO-shaped Futuro and
1959 as part of the quadcentennial which housed Apache prisoners, the Dome of a Home, which was
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celebration of Don Tristan de including Geronimo, is still designed to withstand hurricane- i
Luna’s landing in Pensacola, which accessible to hikers, bicyclists and force winds and storm surges. d
established America’s first European boaters. The fort was completed in Visitors and residents alike can
settlement. In 2009, the Pensacola 1834 and used until World War II, enjoy a stroll along the Quietwater
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Bay area will mark its 450th when modern weapons rendered Beach Boardwalk, which includes .
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anniversary. traditional coastal defenses retail shops, restaurants, nightclubs,
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In the summer of 1559, Don obsolete. street musicians and sidewalk artists.
Tristan de Luna sailed up the Gulf Pensacola Beach is located on With a little luck, vacationers might
of Mexico, from Mexico, with 1,500 Santa Rosa Island, a barrier island catch a concert at the seashell stage
settlers and 11 ships loaded with that is part of The Gulf Islands on the Boardwalk.
gear and food. In fact, Pensacola National Seashore and offers 52
At A Glance
Pensacola Beach, Fla.
Population: 2,738
Average Temp: 76
Average Age: 44
Nearest Hospital:
Baptist Hospital
Nearest Major Airport:
Pensacola Regional Airport
Pensacola Beach Info:
Pensacola Beach Visitors
Information Center
(800) 635-4803
www.VisitPensacolaBeach.com
Courtesy of the Pensacola Convention and Visitors Bureau.
www.PanamaCity-Condos.com I www.RetiringToFlorida.com I www.HotRetirementTowns.com
63_Pensacola Beach.indd 63 8/19/08 3:42:43 PM
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