Pensacola Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Pensacola Historic District (also known as the Seville Historic District) is a U.S.
historic district
(designated as such on September 29, 1970) located in Pensacola
, Florida
. The district is roughly bounded by Bayfront Parkway, Tarragona, Romana and Cevallos Streets. Within the district are the Historic Pensacola Village
, the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum and Seville Square
. It contains 20 historic buildings and 2 structures.
s led by Pensacolian Mary Turner Rule (née Reed) formed the Pensacola Heritage Foundation, joined the National Trust, created the Seville Square Historic District, the neighborhood around Seville Square that was on Pensacola Bay, the first permanent settlement of the area. Realizing the importance of Pensacola's history and the need to save it, Rule and the Heritage Foundation had the Seville Square Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places and immediately purchased the important Dorr House
on the square, restoring it with their own labor starting the preservation movement. They convinced the city to bring the deteriorated square to its present day restored state. Then they created a festival, a hometown Victorian picnic in the park, An Evening in Old Seville Square, to bring Pensacolians to the district encouraging restoration. Rule had the famous lighthouse at the Navy Air Station listed on the National Register. She also helped create a state board now called the N.W. Florida Preservation Board, whose function is to protect the Seville Square Historic District and Pensacola's history. The city established the Architecture Review board to protect Pensacola's history locally.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
(designated as such on September 29, 1970) located in Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The district is roughly bounded by Bayfront Parkway, Tarragona, Romana and Cevallos Streets. Within the district are the Historic Pensacola Village
Historic Pensacola Village
The Historic Pensacola Village is a collection of 22 historical buildings and museums owned and operated by the University of West Florida. The organization is largely based upon the donation of T.T. Wentworth's large historical collection to the state of Florida, and the establishment of an...
, the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum and Seville Square
Seville Square
Seville Square in Pensacola, Florida is the center of the old settlement of Pensacola by the Spanish after several unsuccessful attempts beginning in 1559. This was the earliest known attempt at settlement on the North American continent...
. It contains 20 historic buildings and 2 structures.
Establishment of the Pensacola Historic District
In the early 1960s a group of local preservationistPreservationist
Preservationist is generally understood to mean historic preservationist: one who advocates to preserve architecturally or historically significant buildings, structures, objects or sites from demolition or degradation...
s led by Pensacolian Mary Turner Rule (née Reed) formed the Pensacola Heritage Foundation, joined the National Trust, created the Seville Square Historic District, the neighborhood around Seville Square that was on Pensacola Bay, the first permanent settlement of the area. Realizing the importance of Pensacola's history and the need to save it, Rule and the Heritage Foundation had the Seville Square Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places and immediately purchased the important Dorr House
Clara Barkley Dorr House
The Clara Barkley Dorr House is a historic home in Pensacola, Florida. Built in 1871, it is located at 311 South Adams Street. On July 24, 1974, it was added to the U.S...
on the square, restoring it with their own labor starting the preservation movement. They convinced the city to bring the deteriorated square to its present day restored state. Then they created a festival, a hometown Victorian picnic in the park, An Evening in Old Seville Square, to bring Pensacolians to the district encouraging restoration. Rule had the famous lighthouse at the Navy Air Station listed on the National Register. She also helped create a state board now called the N.W. Florida Preservation Board, whose function is to protect the Seville Square Historic District and Pensacola's history. The city established the Architecture Review board to protect Pensacola's history locally.
See also
- Historic Pensacola VillageHistoric Pensacola VillageThe Historic Pensacola Village is a collection of 22 historical buildings and museums owned and operated by the University of West Florida. The organization is largely based upon the donation of T.T. Wentworth's large historical collection to the state of Florida, and the establishment of an...
- PensacolaPensacola, FloridaPensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... - Plaza Ferdinand VIIPlaza Ferdinand VIIThe Plaza Ferdinand VII is an outdoor garden and park in the historic district of Pensacola, Florida. It is located on Palafox Street between Government and Zaragoza Streets. It was named after Ferdinand VII of Spain, the King of Spain between 1813 and 1833....
External links
- Escambia County listings at National Register of Historic Places
- Escambia County listings at Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
- Pensacola: Seville Historic District: Seville Square at FilmNorthFlorida
- History of the Historic Seville District at Neighbors in Seville, Inc.
- Pensacola Christmas Market at Seville Square
- Pensacola Sightseeing