Palafox Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Palafox Historic District
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East side of Palafox St. in 2012
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 Palafox Historic District
Location in Florida
Palafox Historic District
Location in the United States
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| Location | Palafox St. between Main & Chase extending to Spring, Pensacola, Florida |
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| Area | 176 acres (71 ha) |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architect | James E.R. Carpenter, Emile Weil |
| Architectural style | Multiple |
| NRHP reference No. | 14001085 |
| Added to NRHP | April 27, 2016 |
The Palafox Historic District is a special area in Pensacola, Florida. It has 129 important buildings and places. This district is famous because it's on the National Register of Historic Places.
The district runs along Palafox Street. It stretches from Chase Street in the north to Main Street in the south. It also reaches Spring Street to the west. This area is important for its history of business and trade. It is one of many historic places in Escambia County, Florida.
Contents
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is an official list. It names historic places across the United States. These places are important enough to be saved and protected.
This list was created in 1966. It is part of a program by the National Park Service. The program helps people find, study, and protect America's historic sites. It includes old buildings and archaeological sites.
A Look Back: Pensacola's Rich History
Pensacola, Florida, has a very long history. It was the site of North America's first European colony. In 1559, Spanish explorers arrived. Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano led 1,500 people on eleven ships. They brought food, animals, and supplies to start a new town.
But a strong hurricane hit soon after. It destroyed most of their ships and supplies. The colony only lasted two years. Then, the settlers went back to Mexico.
Over nearly 500 years, many countries have called Pensacola home. Spain, Great Britain, France, and the United States have all been here. Even the Confederate States of America had a presence. Because of this, the city's buildings and streets show many different cultures.
Pensacola's First Historic District
After the National Historic Preservation Act started in 1966, Pensacola wanted to protect its history. The city created a team. They wanted to use grants and tax help to save old buildings.
A special law helped them. It set up the Pensacola Historic Restoration and Preservation Commission. This group received money to study the city's history. They looked at old buildings and wrote down their stories.
In 1970, Pensacola got its first National Register district. It was called the Pensacola Historic District. But many buildings in the downtown business area were not included. They were in bad shape or had been changed too much.
Palafox Historic District Joins the List
In 2011, Pensacola hired Cynthia Catellier. Her job was to write a new nomination. This nomination was for the downtown business district. She worked for several years on this project.
Catellier studied the area and took many photos. She wrote a long story about the Palafox Historic District. On September 4, 2014, she showed her work. It was over 100 pages long. The Florida National Register Review Board voted to send it to Washington, D.C.
Finally, on April 27, 2016, the Palafox Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was a big achievement! A month later, the National Park Service even featured it on their website.
