Presidio San Miguel

Summary

The Spanish established four presidios across West Florida between 1698 and 1763. These fortified settlements were adapted to a variety of environmental, cultural, and political conditions. The final settlement, Presidio San Miguel de Panzacola, began officially circa 1756 after Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa was destroyed by a hurricane in 1752. San Miguel, situated on the mainland, had been established as a warehouse, blockhouse, and mission after a 1740 hurricane, and by 1756 was the Spanish residential and administrative center. The Spanish fortified the central part of the settlement in 1757 due to threats of Indian attack. The location of San Miguel continued to be fortified throughout the colonial period, surrounded by a grid of British and later Second Spanish streets and houses. Modern Pensacola obscures much of the colonial settlement, but UWF archaeologists often recover elements of the settlement’s history during construction in Pensacola’s city streets and lots.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025

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Contact(s): Nicole Haddow