When the Spanish arrived in Pensacola Bay in 1559 and again in 1698, they praised the area’s natural resources: the deep-water bay provided a safe harbor for large ships, rivers supplied fresh water, large forests offered a reliable source of timber, and local plants and animals meant an abundant source of food. Of the many bays along the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola Bay held the most promise for establishing a successful settlement.

Although colonists did not initially see Pensacola as a source of commercial wealth, they did consider it to be strategically important. Local geography provided Spanish fortifications with a clear view of ships entering and leaving Pensacola Bay. When they arrived in 1763, British colonists inherited many of these well-situated Spanish fortifications and buildings. The British also utilized local live oak trees to establish a regional center for shipbuilding and repair.