Museum from Home

COVID-19 Statement

As a Direct Support Organization of the University of West Florida, the UWF Historic Trust properties and museums are following the guidance of the University of West Florida for COVID-19 precautions. UWF is dedicated to the well-being and health of our organization and community. For COVID-19 updates from the University of West Florida, review uwf.edu/coronavirus. 

Phase I Reopening 

On Saturday, May 16 we reopened the T. T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum and the Pensacola Museum of Art only. 
 
The safety of our visitors and staff is the upmost importance to us; therefore, we will only be open on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 until 4:00. These staggered days will allow staff plenty of time to fully sanitize the museums between open days. 
 
We will be operating at 50% capacity at both locations. In order to ensure the social distancing guidelines, we will only offer online $5.00 timed tickets and staff will be situated on each floor reminding visitors of the safety protocols. These $5 tickets are good for both museums and are good for only the day. 
 
Members will need to also register for a timed ticket prior to visiting the museums to ensure entrance capacity is maintained. Member discount is automatic when you log into your account. If you need assistance logging into your account, email Wendi at wdavis4@uwf.edu.
 
Each visitor will be offered free disposable masks at the entrances of the museums if they do not have a mask. Hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout both locations.
 
While these two museums will be open the two museum stores will remain closed for the Phase I reopening. Online sales are still available.
 
Now Open: Our Hilton-Green Research Library is now open for appointments only. Our archivist will be setting appointments for one day each week. Please complete the research form stating your research topic so that our archivist can prepare and then email Jacki at jwilson2@uwf.edu for appointment. Purchase your $5.00 admission to the Hilton-Green Research Library. To ensure the safety of our staff, we are limiting transactions to online only.
 
The governor's plan states: any components of museums or libraries that have interactive functions or exhibits, including child play areas, remain closed. Therefore, we are not opening the Pensacola Children's Museum in Phase I. 
 
Staff is developing our reopening plan per the suggestions of the American Alliance of Museums which states, "a gradual approach [which] allows your museum to prioritize health and safety while taking progressive steps to restore regular operations." 
 

Children's Resources

We know the Fiesta Children's Treasure Hunt has been postponed until October 24, but we wanted to have something for you to do on Saturday, April 25. Enjoy our downloadable Fiesta Children's Treasure Hunt! Complete the hunt and get a certificate and free pass to Historic Pensacola. We hope you enjoy!

Our Pensacola Children's Museum educactor is creating fun At Home Projects to download and do with your children.

Download our Pensacola Children's Museum's 

Calling all future museum curators! Check out 5 Fun At-Home Make-a-Museum activities for Kids

Create a while you are at home. Don't forget to share with our Archives so that children in the future can see what it was like to be a child of 2020.

Colonial Cooking At Home

Our Living History staff welcomes you to Colonial Cooking At Home where you can download recipes we have prepared in the Lavalle Kitchen House. New recipes will be added each Saturday, which is our Colonial Cooking day in the Village.

  • Downloadable Recipe 1: Colonial Cooking: Carrot Puffs from The Complete Housewife by Eliza Smith, 1766. Check out this video from Townsends as they cook a similar recipe. This recipe was first cooked in the Lavalle Kitchen House in January 2013. 
  • Downloadable Recipe 2: Colonial Cooking: Easter Menu our living history coordinator has suggested: Fricassee des poulets, Carrots and French Beans dressed the dutch way, Gazpacho, and Ginger Cakes for a lovely Easter Sunday menu.
  • Downloadable Recipe 3: Colonial Cooking: Barley Soup from The Virginia Housewife, by Mary Randolph, 1824. Made in Historic Pensacola Village in February 2013.
  • Downloadable Recipe 4: Colonial Cooking: Pancake Pudding from the Universal Cook, by John Townshend, 1773.
  • Downloadable Recipe 5: Colonial Cooking: A French Cake from The Magnolia Mound Plantation Kitchen Book. Being a Compendium of Foodways and Customs of Early Louisiana 1795-1841
  • Downloadable Recipe 6: Colonial Cooking: Orange Tart from A New System of Domestic Cookery by Maria Rundell, 1808

Create a COVID-19 Journal

In the coming years researchers will be looking for information about how we coped with Covid 19 and the restrictions it placed on all of us. The UWF Historic Trust archive would love to collect your stories of this difficult time. How are you filling your time? How are you getting groceries? Are you supporting the local economy in some way, maybe ordering food from local restaurants, donating to local relief programs or giving food to animal shelters? Helping relatives or neighbors who need help securing food or other items? Cleaning house, making repairs, rearranging furniture? Getting out puzzles and jigsaw puzzles to play with the family? Spending your life in front of the computer playing games? Getting in touch with family and/or friends you haven't contacted in some time? Has social distancing brought you closer or caused discord?

There is no word count for this, send us several pages or several lines. Start now and continue with your story until you feel your life has returned to normal, or a "new normal." Put it in a Word document or PDF and send it as an email attachment, in the body of an email, or a good, old-fashioned letter you mail to UWF Historic Trust Archives, PO Box 12866, Pensacola, FL 32591.
 
If we all participate in this we can compile a comprehensive look at life during these troubled times.
 
If you have any questions, email Jacki Wilson, Archivist, at jwilson2@uwf.edu. 
 

Social Media 

Watch our social media for daily updates.

Follow us on:

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see 15-minute John Appleyard Reflecting on Pensacola History videos.

And, we are now on TikTok too! 

Take a Virtual Tour 

Take a virtual tour through our Greetings from Pensacola exhibit, our Lessons In Ink exhibit, and our beautiful Old Christ Church.

VEX Views, our Historic Pensacola blog

Historic Pensacola employs student workers as our Visitor Experience Associates. During our closure, many of these front line staff are writing blog posts sharing their experiences of working in Historic Pensacola. Read our blog today. Updated throughout the week. 

Membership

Now more than ever, Historic Pensacola appreciates the support of our members. Join today and help us keep Pensacola history alive!

Museum Stores

Staff have been working to get our museum stores online. We have curated a taste of what is available in our stores. Items are added weekly.

Please be patient when ordering in our new online store; allow 5-7 days for shipping. If you have any questions, please email Wendi at wdavis4@uwf.edu.

Appleyard Catalog: Explore John Appleyard's publications available in our museum stores.

Children's Store: Shop a few of the items available in the Pensacola Children's Museum.

Magazine Catalog: See our past issues of Pensacola History Illustrated. Only issues online are available.

Pensacola History Catalog: Looking for Pensacola history books, see what we have online.

Wentworth Exhibit Store: Find the perfect item from our Wentworth exhibits store.

Women's History: It is the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, celebrate with items from our women's history store. 

We Support Our Healthcare Workers and First Responders

Starting this week we have made the lighting at the T. T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum and Museum Plaza Blue in support of our Healthcare workers. Cities across the United States are illuminating their stadiums and landmarks in blue in support of the health-care workers and first responders as they continue to combat the coronavirus.