Discovering Our Past

On September 19, 1559, a hurricane came through what is now Pensacola Bay. In its wake lay the scattered and destroyed remnants of Spain’s first attempt to conquer and colonize the lands that would one day become Florida. Led by Don Tristan de Luna, the expedition had arrived on August 15 and in one short month begun the process of building what would have been the first settlement in what is today the United States. The hurricane destroyed all but three of the vessels that had made up the armada at anchor however, and dashed their hopes of bringing civilization to this land.
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In 1992, Pensacola Bay relinquished one of its secrets when the ghostly remains of a ship were found in shallow water off Emanuel Point. Believed to be one of de Luna’s ill-fated armada, the ship is a small galleon that has thus far surrendered more than 3,000 artifacts. Some of these discoveries include an iron breast plate, limestone cannon balls, a small 15th century coin, fragments of ceramic containers, and a copper cauldron. Excavation continues to this day!

Our Nations First Settlement

The Five Flags of Escambia County