The Pensacola museums cover a number of interests. There's an aviation museum in Pensacola, at least one excellent art museum, and a prized historic village for history buffs to explore. That's not all there is, however, and when you consider all the other great attractions that can be found in and around town, it becomes clear that a Pensacola escape is something that can satisfy everyone in your group.

The Pensacola Museum of Art is one of the best art museums that you will find in the Florida panhandle region. Housed in a building that served as the city's jail in the first half of the 1900s, this museum has both artistic and historic appeal. Inside is an eclectic collection of pieces, the likes of which are mostly modern art. There are folk art pieces, Cubism works, and sculptures, and you won't want to miss the decorative glass and the tribal art from Africa. You can find the Pensacola Museum of Art in downtown Pensacola at 407 South Jefferson Street.

In or close to the downtown district is where many of the best Pensacola museums are located. That's at least where you will find the Historic Pensacola Village, which is a sort of grouping of museums. Akin to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, this historic village features a collection of period buildings and has an overly English colonial feel. Among the highlights in this village are the 1832 Christ Church and the exceptional T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum, which is arguably the best history museum in the land. The Historic Pensacola Village is east of Tarragona Street, and you can get tickets for a tour of the buildings that are open to the public at the Tivoli High House. This historic house is found at 205 East Zaragosa Street.

Pensacola Map

Also found on East Zaragosa Street in downtown Pensacola is the Pensacola Historical Museum. This institution focuses on the rich history of Pensacola. The building itself dates back to the early 1880s, and among the most interesting things that you can see during a visit are the ruins of a Spanish officer's compound. 115 East Zaragosa Street is where you can find the Pensacola Historical Museum and admission is free.

Pensacola Naval Air Station

The Pensacola museums are more than just great rainy day attractions. This is certainly the case with the renowned National Museum of Aviation. In addition to admiring more than 150 restored aircraft, visitors to this museum aboard the Pensacola Naval Air Station can get insight into just how much work goes into defending the United States. That's not all, however. An IMAX theater shows all kinds of interesting movies, and should you show up on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning between the months of March and November, chances are good that you will have the opportunity to watch a scintillating Blue Angels training session. This Navy flying squadron sure knows how to put on a show, and it doesn't cost anything to take in one of the dazzling practice sessions.

Rounding out the best Pensacola museums is an institution that focuses on the Civil War and the role that Pensacola played in this war. This museum is the Civil War Soldiers Museum, and you can find it downtown at 108 South Palafox Place. Also of great interest in terms of history is Fort Pickens, which was one of a few forts that were built in Pensacola by the U.S. government in the 1800s. You might also reserve time for the Pensacola Lighthouse, which has been around since the 1800s. Next to this historic lighthouse is an interesting museum that highlights the tower's history and the history of Pensacola in general.