Seville Square
Seville Square sits at the heart of the Pensacola Historic District. Wrought iron benches line Seville Square's criss-crossing brick sidewalks under the spreading branches of the square's many venerable live oaks.
The square is the site of one of the area's early settlements, Fort San Miguel; the fort's occupants used the land as parade grounds. In 1764, during the British occupation of West Florida, surveyor Elias Durnford designated it as a public square, or commons, in the new city plan. When the Spanish reoccupied Pensacola, they kept the Durnford plan but gave the square - and the streets - new names, designating Seville Square a public plaza in 1813. Today, many of these Spanish names are still in use.
The many historic homes facing the square span roughly a century, from the early 19th century Quina House to the Victorian-era Clara Barkley Dorr house. In the 1960s, after suffering a period of neglect and slow decay, the square became the focal point of a local historic preservation movement, inspired by similar efforts nationwide. Deteriorating homes were restored and many were repurposed as offices, shops, restaurants, and museums.
In 1967, just one year after the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Historic Pensacola Preservation Board (later renamed the University of West Florida Historic Trust) was founded to oversee the Seville Square Historic District. Today, Seville Square remains a popular recreational spot. It is home to many beloved local events, particularly art and music festivals.
Written and researched by Erika Wilhite.
