Pensacola Museum of History facts for kids
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| Established | 1988 |
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| Location | Pensacola, Florida |
| Type | History museum |
The Pensacola Museum of History at the University of West Florida is a cool place to learn about the past. It's a museum of history located in Pensacola, Florida. You can find it at 330 Jefferson Street, right in Plaza Ferdinand VII.
This museum is part of a bigger area called the Historic Pensacola Village. The building itself is quite old and interesting. It was built in 1907 and used to be the Pensacola City Hall. It even looks a bit like the famous Alamo! The building served as the city hall until 1985.
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Discovering Pensacola's Past
The Pensacola Museum of History helps visitors explore the rich history of the Florida Panhandle. It shows how people lived there over many centuries. You can see all sorts of old items and learn about the area's past.
How the Museum Started
The museum first opened its doors in 1988. Before that, a man named T. T. Wentworth Jr. had a huge collection of interesting items. He started his first museum in 1957 as a small roadside stand. He collected all kinds of things!
In the 1980s, Mr. Wentworth offered to give his entire collection to the city of Pensacola. He just asked for a permanent place to show it. The city got help from the state, and the old city hall building was chosen. It was fixed up to become the new museum.
What You Can See Inside
When you visit, you'll find different exhibits. One floor has some of Mr. Wentworth's unique collections. These include many unusual items he gathered over the years.
Other floors tell the story of life in the Florida Panhandle. You can see artifacts that show how people lived long ago. There's even a special science museum area for kids! It has interactive exhibits where you can learn by doing.
Repairs After a Hurricane
From September 2004 to March 2005, the museum had to close. A big storm called Hurricane Ivan caused a lot of damage. After repairs, the museum reopened with a new exhibit. This exhibit compared the 2004 hurricane to another big storm in 1926. It showed how both hurricanes affected the building and the area.
A New Name for the Museum
The museum was originally named after T. T. Wentworth Jr. However, in 2020, new information came out about some of his past actions. Because of these concerns, the University of West Florida Historic Trust decided to look into changing the museum's name.
In December 2020, the trust voted to change the name. Then, in March 2021, the University of West Florida Board of Trustees officially voted to rename it. The museum is now known as the Pensacola Museum of History at the University of West Florida.
