Did you know that I went to college in one of America’s premiere beach destinations? That’s right, I got to spend my semesters studying on Pensacola Beach and my weekends exploring all of its hidden gems. Pensacola is an incredible area with so many things to do, and I plan to share some more adventures from my time there soon. But today, I want to focus on a fun historic site located on the Pensacola Naval Air Station, the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum.
If you’ve never visited a lighthouse before, Pensacola’s is a great one to start with. It has great views, a fascinating history, and a scary ghost story. The climb to the top is grueling but well worth the panorama of the Gulf Coast.
What to Know Before You Go
The Lighthouse and Museum are located on the Pensacola Naval Air Station Base, so you cannot just drive up unprepared. Be sure you have the following:
Proper ID for everyone in your party over 18
Secure walking shoes, no flip-flops
Clothing with pockets for your credit cards, keys, etc., as bags and purses are not allowed on the property
A camera if you like taking pictures
You can access the Pensacola Lighthouse through the public gate on Blue Angel Parkway. Be sure to use the correct address when navigating. If your GPS takes you to a different entrance, they will turn you away and send you to the proper one.
From the gate, it is an easy drive. Just follow the road signs to the Pensacola Lighthouse, and you will see it in the distance as well.
Tickets cost $8 for visitors over 12 years old and $4 for visitors under 12 and over 65. Purchase your tickets in the renovated carriage house gift shop.
Who Can Climb the Lighthouse
The Pensacola Lighthouse is a fun family excursion, but you need to be aware that children under 44 inches or 7 years old are not allowed to climb the lighthouse. It has a fairly open stairway, so it can be hazardous for little ones.
The site also does not allow child carriers, so if you have small children under the height or age requirement, your experience will be limited to the downstairs museum.
I also would not recommend this location if you do not do well with stairs. There are a few places to rest momentarily in window ledges, but the 160-foot climb to the top can be pretty exhausting, especially if you have any leg injuries.
The Lighthouse and Museum are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, with the last admission at 4:40. However, you will want at least an hour to climb the lighthouse and explore the museum, so arrive well before closing to get your money’s worth.
A Brief History of the Pensacola Lighthouse
The entire area of Pensacola, Florida, is steeped in rich historical events due to its strategic naval location. In fact, five nations have fought for and controlled Pensacola at separate times, including France, Spain, England, the Confederate States of America, and now the United States.
You can still see evidence of Spanish control at Fort Barrancas, another historic site on the Naval Air Station Base.
In 1821, the United States took control of the Pensacola area from Spain, and two years later, they decided to establish a lighthouse on the harbor. However, this lighthouse did not last long due to several visibility issues, and it was officially replaced by the current Pensacola Lighthouse in 1858. This tower is 160 feet tall and was originally painted white.
When Florida succeeded from the Union in 1861, the Confederate army took control of the lighthouse and removed the Fresnel lens, temporarily putting the lighthouse out of commission until the Union regained command in 1862. The lighthouse was minorly damaged during a two-day artillery battle but ultimately took no detrimental blows.
Evolution and Preservation of the Lighthouse
In 1869, the lighthouse received a large makeover. The keeper’s quarters, now the Maritime Museum, were added to the base of the lighthouse, the top two-thirds were painted black to stand out better, and a new Fresnel lens was placed in the lantern room.
Since then, the lighthouse has proudly stood guard over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, guiding ships safely into the harbor. In that time, it has overcome many hardships that make it quite the structural wonder.
The Pensacola Lighthouse has survived two lightning strikes, an earthquake, and many hurricanes, which ultimately caused some cracks in the tower’s base. However, the tower is still structurally sound and standing tall.
In 1939, the lighthouse was transferred to the Coast Guard, where it was staffed until modernization allowed the light to run automatically in 1965.
The lighthouse was almost destroyed soon after, but the Gulf Islands National Seashore, part of the National Parks Service, saved it in 1971, along with Forts Barrancas and Pickens.
The Ghost of the Pensacola Lighthouse
For 160 years, the Pensacola Lighthouse has sat at the entrance to Pensacola Bay, and thousands of visitors have come every year to explore its history, but paranormal investigators say the property has six permanent residents.
As I briefly mentioned earlier, the Pensacola Lighthouse also has its own ghost story, and it has been featured by paranormal activity groups, including television investigations.
Supposedly, six ghosts permanently haunt the property, ranging from Ellen, who died during childbirth, to Lizzy and Joey, children who died from Yellow Fever.
The original 1826 lighthouse is also said to be haunted by one of the original keepers, Michaela Ingraham. The story goes that Michaela murdered her husband with a knife and now spends her afterlife throwing things at visitors and calling their names as they climb the stairs.
If you are not too creeped out, you can sign up for special ghost tours at the lighthouse for visitors over the age of 12.
Things to See and Do
The Lighthouse and Museum offer a mixture of learning, sightseeing, and, let’s be honest, exercise.
The Pensacola Lighthouse is 160 feet tall and has over 170 steps. It is a long but worthwhile journey to the top. Again, I would like to emphasize to wear good shoes. If you wear flip-flops, you will have to go barefoot, yours truly.
Along the way, be sure to stop and explore the small off-shoot rooms holding exhibits. I believe we visited one or two inside the actual tower that had fun information about the Coast Guard.
Besides being a learning experience, these stops are also a good reprieve from climbing the stairs.
When you reach the top of the tower, be sure to check out the Fresnel lens. You will learn more about it in the Maritime Museum, but it is a beautiful piece of equipment, particularly when the sun is shining on it.
And of course, the end goal is the gorgeous panoramic view of the Gulf Coast from the top of the lighthouse. There is a railed balcony all the way around, so you can get a bird’s-eye view of the whole area, including Fort Pickens across the water.
Be sure you stay to enjoy the view and get well rested before heading back down because it is a steep descent.
Exploring the Maritime Museum and Gift Shop
The old keeper’s quarters now house the Maritime Museum. It is a fun mix of educational exhibits and a recreated living area.
The current exhibits include information on the Coast Guard, the evolution of lighting the lighthouse beacon, stories of women who tended the lighthouse and served in the Coast Guard, the industrial history of Pensacola, and more. Be sure to leave plenty of time to soak up all these details.
Finally, the east side of the house holds the Living History portion of the tour. These rooms have been carefully recreated to show visitors what life was like for the lighthouse keepers who lived in the quarters throughout different periods of history.
The gift shop is located inside the lighthouse’s renovated carriage house. It is a cute little building with a small but fun collection of souvenirs that you will definitely want to browse through.
If you are ever in Pensacola, do not miss this great attraction if you can help it. There are other cool things to do while you are on the base too, like the National Naval Aviation Museum and Fort Barrancas.
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Happy travels!
