Imagine...
THE HISTORY OF RAILROADING in Florida spans almost 170 years and is closely linked with the state’s development and growth.

OUT OF THE TIMBER and fishing industries that grew along Pensacola Bay came early railways that connected North America to global trade routes leading directly through Pensacola’s historic seaport.

IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, the “Deep Water City” as Pensacola became know, was home to the three largest piers on earth. In 1906 there were at least seven privately owned wharves which qualified as significant because of their size or quantity of goods shipped. The three largest were owned by the L&N and St. Louis railroad who had tremendous grain elevators and coal shipping facilities right on the piers, one of which stretched into the bay for more than a mile and a half.

PENSACOLA GAINED INTERNATIONAL FAME for its lumber and seafood exports. “Pensacola Pine” lumber was exported to all parts of the world and fish known as Red Snapper fed anticipating taste buds of the Northeast.

BY THE LATE 1880’S the timber industry was booming in Northwest Florida. Much of the pine timber was exported via rail throughout the country.

Railroads

• In the southwest corner, the existing studs will be covered and a large graphic of a railroad engine will form the backdrop for a multi-photo collage of various railroads
• Railroad ties and rails will sit in a contained railroad bed
• A storyboard talking about the importance of railroads to the area, a computer-based artifact key and artifact cases will be located nearby
• The display will feature a button- activated soundtrack of railroad sounds
• The doors and wall area leadingto the exterior rail engine and cars will be decorated to invite visitors to view the outside engine

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