Unlocking our past to preserve our future.
Norman Haines Photography
About us
Pursue the Past..... Enrich Your Future
Just think of Pensacola without Seville Square and its historic neighborhood, the historic Dorr house and the restored Barkley House. All of these areas are preserved, to be enjoyed today and into the future because of Pensacola Heritage Foundation.
The Pensacola Heritage Foundation, Inc. was established in 1964 by its founder Mary Turner Rule and is affiliated with the National and Florida Trusts for Historic Preservation. The Foundation is the oldest historic preservation organization in our area and continues to pursue its mission of preserving and protecting Pensacola’s rich history through educational programs and community activities.
Whether you are a newcomer to the area or a life-long resident, we promise that you will discover something new through our educational programs. If you are interested in and care about the rich heritage of our community, then we invite you to become a member of this Foundation.
Pensacola: Restoring Our Past
The Pensacola Heritage Foundation’s first project was to restore one of the oldest homes in downtown Pensacola to its original condition. That was the Dorr House, located right on Seville Square. Next was the restoration of Seville Square itself. The Foundation also undertook the restoration of the Barkley House from which we operated more than 15 years.
For 25 years the Pensacola Heritage Foundation had a long tradition of making Seville Square the center of our community as well as a gathering ground for the Evenings In Olde Seville Square concert series which offered free entertainment to the public with thousands of people attending the concerts every Thursday during the summer.
Mission Statement
To preserve and protect Pensacola’s heritage through advocacy, education and community involvement.
Education
Promoting Education
Scholarship Essay Contest
The 2026 Scholarship Essay Contest is LIVE now - Deadline is Friday, March 20, 2026!
Download the Sponsorship Information Packet Here
Pensacola Heritage Foundation promotes education with our annual Scholarship Essay Contest. The Foundation awards two deserving college bound high school students, scholarships of $1,500 each towards their college education. The essay contest is open to high school seniors in Escambia County Public Schools and Santa Rosa County Schools.
In 2025, the student essays addressed the following question: “What impact did the establishment of the Pensacola Navy Yard in 1826 have on the growth of Northwest Florida?”
The two winners were Carlyn Henley, JM Tate High School, and Paul Ryan Shave, Gulf Breeze High School.
Carlyn will be attending either the University of South Alabama or the University of West Florida, majoring in Nursing. She is active in volleyball, Beta Club, flag football, dance, and Goalie Girls.
Paul Ryan will be attending the University of West Florida, majoring in Computer Science. He is engaged in Key Club, Ocean Hour, the Teen Age Volunteer (TAV) Program at Gulf Breeze Hospital, and Autocross.
Their scholarships were presented at each student’s school’s respective awards night. PHF wishes our awardees the very best in their ongoing education journey.
2024 History Fair
The Escambia County History Fair was held on February 4. PHF member Jim Gulley attended and judged the many great submissions from Escambia County students. The two winners chosen by Pensacola Heritage Foundation are Sarah Tanveer, and Aya Prince who were each awarded a $100.00 check from PHF at the ceremony on February 11.
Lecture series
Lecture Series
The Pensacola Heritage Foundation is pleased
to present its 2025 Lecture Series
with Dr. Norm Haines and others.
The lectures are held every other Tuesday at The Wright Place, 80 E. Wright Street, Pensacola, Florida.
Doors open at 11:00 and lunch is served at 11:30. The lecture starts at 12 noon and lasts 1 hour. Lecture cost is $5.00 for non-members and is free to members. Lunches are $12.
Reservations are required for planning purposes and can be made by contacting Pensacola Heritage Foundation by email pnsheritage@yahoo.com or phone reservation 850-380-7759.
The deadline for the lunch reservation is the Friday prior to the lecture.
2025 Schedule of Daytime Lectures
Nov. 18th: U. S. Life Saving Station & The Voyage of the Catharine
by Norm Haines
Dec. 2nd: The War That Was Started Over A Key by Norm Haines
Dec. 16th: Religion Comes To Pensacola by Norm Haines
2025 Schedule of Evening Lectures
Thursday, November 20, 2025: Pensacola's Love Affair With Alcohol by Norm Haines
The July 9th program was presented and performed by the Pensacola Early Music Consort. The Consort performs music of the late medieval and Renaissance periods, approximately 1400-1600, music that would have been familiar to Don Tristan De Luna. Director Charles Tucker demonstrated and explained the various instruments played in the Consort, including recorders from the soprano through the great bass, the six-foot sub-bass. The sixteen-foot sub-sub bass, is currently one of only seven such instruments in the world and the only one in North America. Additional instruments were gemshorns, krummhorns, a hammered dulcimer and various percussion instruments.
The July 23rd lecture described the development of the road between Pensacola and St. Augustine from its beginning as disconnected animal trails to a constructed road. He also provided a biography of Father Michael Portier who was appointed as apostolic vicar for the territory from Mobile to St. Augustine.
Membership
Become a Member
Benefits & Dues
Pensacola Heritage Foundation
Become a part of an organization whose work is never finished. As long as our community's heritage is threatened, we will be there to encourage preservation and remind others that our heritage is what makes Pensacola a unique and very special place.
Individual: $40/annual
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Free admission to the lecture programs for one individual
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Heritage Times Newsletter
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Free admission to the Annual Members Party
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Access to Members-only Historical Tours
Family: $70/annual
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Free admission to the lecture programs for two adults and all children in the household
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Heritage Times Newsletter
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Free admission for two adults to the Annual Members Party
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Access to Members-only Historical Tours
Lifetime Member: $500/one time
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Same benefits of Family membership for a lifetime
Historian Level: $1,000/one time
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Same benefits of Lifetime Membership plus
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Two free Historical Home Tour & Luncheon Tickets
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PHF Swag Bag with miscellaneous perks
* Existing "Lifetime" Level Members may upgrade their membership to "Historian" Level with an additional $500 donation.
Pensacola, Florida 1885
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…
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.
