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Prehistoric Florida was more than twice as large as it is today, supporting a large number of plants and animals, including the now-extinct saber-tooth tiger, mastodon, and giant armadillo. It earliest people were probably hunter/gatherers, living off of plants, nuts, shellfish, and small animals. With a steady water supply and good resources for tool-making and firewood, their cultures flourished, developing complex social organizations with large temple mounds and villages. For many years these peoples fought off attempts at colonization by Spanish explorers.

Don Diego Miruelo is thought to be the first explorer to sail into Pensacola Bay, and soon trade with the Indians was established. However, early attempts to establish settlements were unsuccessful. The fort of Bahia Santa Maria de Filipina lasted only two years. More than a century later, Pensacola Bay was "rediscovered." Calling the bay "the best I have ever seen," it was named Panzacola after the Panzacola Indians. Thus, continuous settlement in Pensacola did not begin until 1698. The first of three sites comprising the settlement - the "First Pensacola" -- was called Santa Maria de Galve. The "Second Pensacola" was established on Santa Rosa Island in 1722, and the "Third Pensacola" was built near San Miguel mission (today's Seville Square) in 1757.

Many hurricanes and wars ravaged these settlements over the years, but the people always rebuilt. At the close of the Seven Years War (also known as the French & Indian War), Britain took control of Florida, laying out a new town at Pensacola and declaring it the capital of West Florida (St. Augustine was capital of East Florida). During the 18 years of British rule, the town made more progress than it had during the previous 65 years. When the Spanish regained control of Florida and the Louisiana Territory had been purchased, Pensacola was made capital of the enlarged area known as Spanish West Florida and later of the Republic of West Florida.

Pensacola's history continued on its convoluted course, growing in spite of succeeding periods of war, epidemics, hurricanes, and national financial disasters. Today it still stands proudly.