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 fun place to explore the past of Pensacola, Florida. You can find it at 330 Jefferson Street, right in the middle of Plaza Ferdinand VII. This museum is part of the larger Historic Pensacola Village complex. The building itself is quite old and special. It was built in 1907 and used to be the Pensacola City Hall until 1985. It even looks a bit like the famous Alamo!
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History of the Museum
The museum was once known as the T. T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum. It was named after a man named T. T. Wentworth Jr. He started collecting interesting items way back in 1957. He collected all sorts of things because he was very curious about history.
How the Museum Started
In the 1980s, Wentworth offered to give his huge collection to the city of Pensacola. He just asked for a permanent place to display everything. The city received a special grant from the state to help. This money was used to fix up the old city hall building for the museum. The museum officially opened its doors in 1988.
What You Can See Inside
When you visit, you'll find different exhibits. One floor shows off some of Wentworth's unique collections. These include many interesting and sometimes unusual items, like a mummified cat! The other floors teach you about life in the Florida Panhandle over many years. You can see artifacts from different time periods. There's also a special science area for kids to explore and learn.
Changes and Renovations
The museum has faced some challenges over the years. From September 2004 to March 2005, it had to close for repairs. This was because Hurricane Ivan caused a lot of damage to the building. When the museum reopened, it added a new exhibit. This exhibit compared the effects of Hurricane Ivan to a big hurricane in 1926. Both storms caused damage to the museum building.
A New Name for the Museum
In recent years, the museum's name became a topic of discussion. On July 14, 2020, the University of West Florida Historic Trust announced they were thinking about changing the name. This was because new information came out about T. T. Wentworth Jr.'s past. People had concerns about his actions and beliefs from long ago.
After careful consideration, the University of West Florida Board of Trustees voted on March 18, 2021, to change the museum's name. The UWF Historic Trust board had already voted in December 2020 to make this change. The museum is now known as the Pensacola Museum of History at the University of West Florida. This new name helps the museum focus on its mission of sharing the history of Pensacola with everyone.
