Hidden Treasures
These tucked-away spaces, secret gardens and special art pieces offer respite, inspiration and a deeper connection to the campus community. Just like our campus, tucked deep in the pine forest of Northwest Florida, sometimes the best treasures can be found where you least expect them.
Put on your explorer cap and take a stroll across campus to discover some of our can’t-miss sights at UWF.
The Edward Ball Nature Trail is accessed behind Crosby Hall (Building 10) and Building 11. This half-mile boardwalk meanders through Thompson’s Bayou over a hardwood swamp that is home to mammals, birds, fish and reptiles, including an occasional American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Only foot traffic may explore the preserve trail.
The Camellia Garden, near Building 41, is a collaboration between the Pensacola Camellia Club and UWF Retired Employee Association showcasing camellias from around the world. The Community Garden, behind the UWF water tower, teaches the UWF community how to grow food locally and organically, encourages healthy eating, and promotes food sustainability.
Find inspiration and appreciation for all of the creative touches with the outdoor art installations that can be found throughout the Pensacola campus. Start your journey and take a walk on the art side with STEAM public sculptures, student projects showcasing campus beauty and more.
Outdoor spirited institutional murals can be found at the University Commons, Aquatic Center, John C. Pace Library and Building 20W, highlighting institutional spirited elements and campus icons like Argie, Annin’s Cannon, the Cantor al Sol archway, Argodillo, Sheldon the Turtle, Albie the Squirrel and more.
The Magnolia Walk (formerly known as the President's Walk) is the walking paths through the magnolia trees between Buildings 10, 12, 18 and 21. The Magnolia Walk features the Hal Crosby Bench, Susan Leigh Morris Memorial, Connection Deck and Cantor al Sol archway.
UWF provides opportunities for the community to experience and appreciate Japanese culture and history with the Radio Torii sculpture at WUWF as well as the Japan House at the International Center that features an authentic Japanese tea room in the tradition of urasenke and an authentic Japanese tatami room built with materials brought from Japan.
The UWF 2022-23 Staff LEAD class launched four Little Free Library locations on the Pensacola campus. Little Free Libraries are weather-protected, book-sharing boxes. The boxes are located adjacent to the Connection Deck, Pace Hall, the Educational Research Center for Child Development and the Community Garden.
The museum inside of the Margaret Jane Smith Archaeology Institute includes many artifacts unearthed by UWF archaeologists. Many of the most spectacular artifacts from all time periods – Prehistoric Native American, Colonial, Early American and Victorian – are on display in the institute located at the entrance to campus.
UWF was selected from hundreds of organizations that applied to receive a Moon Tree seedling that flew around the moon on NASA’s Artemis 1 mission in 2022. UWF President Martha Saunders unveiled the loblolly pine during a ceremony at the north lawn of Building 4 on the UWF Pensacola campus.