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“The gardens which had formerly brightened the environs were cut into lots and sold at auction, but none of them were improved. Some of the streets within the town were blocked by constructing houses on them or shutting them off as building lots. The plaza, also, was partially subdivided leaving only two public squares named Ferdinand and Isabella respectively. Each was 500 by 300 feet. New streets were laid out to meet the “general confusion,” some thirty, some forty, and some sixty feet in width. They still maintained their natural surface and in strong winds the inhabitants were treated to clouds of dust and sand.”
- L.N. McAlister
Cities are constantly changing. Buildings go up, streets get widened, and the community evolves. In Pensacola, many of the streets you walk on today are the same ones people in 1821 used. Pensacola's modern layout follows the plan implemented during the British period. Principal Surveyor Elias Durnford redesigned the old Spanish town in the 1760s. He created a grid pattern and plotted land from the waterfront to Garden Street.
The current street names are a mix of Spanish, English, and American period monikers. After the United States took control in 1821, the town underwent extensive changes. As the city grew, areas that had older buildings became refreshed commercial centers. A 30 acre public green space, the former site of a much older Spanish fort, turned into businesses and private residences. The growth reflected an increased population density.
Finding 1821 is part of the UWF Historic Trust's Suddenly American exhibit. Using historic newspapers, maps, and documents it is possible to locate where businesses stood in the 1820s. From taverns to parasol shops, each site on the Finding 1821 trail reflects a local establishment that was near that location two hundred years ago. Outside each business is a QR code that links to a corresponding advert from an early 1820s newspaper. Over a dozen sites have been identified so far. Take a stroll around town, visit local shops, and explore the history of Pensacola through today's technology.
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