The Museum of Commerce brings Pensacola's commercial history to life by recreating a portion of the Palafox Street business district from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This streetscape replica is located inside the historic Heinberg warehouse built in 1898 by Charles J. Heinberg. The century-old warehouse has served a number of functions, including that of a wholesale grocery and a fish company.

In 1970, the Historic Pensacola Preservation Board, now the University of West Florida Historic Trust, acquired the building and converted it into a museum. Recreated storefronts include a barber shop, hardware store, leather and harness store, carriage shop, and a newspaper office. Visitors can also see Pensacola's first traffic light, which dates to 1926, and a city trolley car that transported passengers for five-cent fares in the 1920s and 30s.

Located at 201 East Zaragoza Street, in Historic Pensacola Village, the Museum of Commerce affords visitors the chance to experience life in Pensacola at the turn of the twentieth century.

This podcast made possible through the generous support of the UWF Historic Trust. Script written by Michael Singleton and Amber Sherouse. Narrated by Sandra Averhart.

Credits and Sources:

Photographs from the University of West Florida Historic Trust