PENSACOLA, Fla. — Pensacola is known for its deep history. One notable figure in that story is the 7th president of the United States, Andrew Jackson.
Today, reminders of his time here can still be found across the city — sometimes in places people pass every day.
Near the fountain in Plaza Ferdinand sits a bust of Jackson, commemorating Florida’s entry into the nation.
“In 1821 we lowered the Spanish flag and raised the American flag, and this became part of the United States,” said Collier Merrill, owner of Jackson’s Steakhouse in Downtown Pensacola.
Merrill’s restaurant sits just across from the plaza, displaying Jackson’s signature as its logo.
“Andrew Jackson was a part of us, he lived right up the street here about a block, and we enjoy having the heritage here,” Merrill said.
The official transfer of Florida from Spain to the United States took place just a few hundred yards away, at what is now Museum Plaza. The moment was recreated in 2021, marking 200 years since Jackson became Florida’s territorial governor.
“We would have had thousands of troops lined up right here,” said Phillip Mayhair of the UWF Historic Trust.
Mayhair often brings that era to life, dressing in period uniform and recreating the experience of an early 1800s soldier at community events.
“Andrew Jackson is a figure I see as someone you wanted to be friends with, and not enemies with, for sure,” he said. “You definitely wanted him on your side.”
The early 1800s were a tumultuous time in Pensacola, shaped by the Creek Wars and the War of 1812.
“Britain was here in Pensacola, essentially building a big army, using this as a base of operations, and the United States caught wind of this, and that’s what led Jackson down here,” Mayhair said.
Now considered a polarizing figure, Jackson played a major role in pushing back British forces and later in the expansion of the United States.
His presence can still be felt downtown.
Visitors to 200 South Tap House are stepping into a space where Jackson lived for several months after the transfer of Florida. The Old Hickory Whiskey Bar takes its name from the nickname given to him by his troops.
And at Perfect Plain Brewing Company, the name itself comes from a letter written by Jackson’s wife, Rachel, who once described Pensacola as sitting on a “perfect plain” — though her impressions were mixed.
“Rachel Jackson loved the environment and the climate and all the trees and the white sand, she said it was a very beautiful city,” Mayhair said. “But she wasn’t a fan of the people living in the town. It was, in her mind, kind of a rough crowd.”
Inside the Pensacola Museum of History, exhibits offer a closer look at the city Jackson experienced and the impact of his time here.
He only came to the city three times, but in those turbulent years, history was in the making every day.
“These streets were laid out 200 years ago and they’ve seen generations of people walking on these streets,” Mayhair said, “from common everyday people to future U.S. presidents.”
