The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic Fraternal Organization of Men, sponsored the 10-foot, concrete cross which now stands on a dune of Pensacola Beach.

The cross commemorates the first Catholic Mass celebrated in the continental United States on August 15, 1559.

It was in 1559 that Tristan de Luna with eleven ships and 1,500 people, including five Catholic Dominican priests, landed on the shores of Pensacola Beach.

The dedication of the cross took place on May 3, 1953. For many in the community, the cross serves as a reminder of a time of discovery and adventure in which explorations and faith in God were intertwined.

Written by Devon Nelson, Student, Pensacola Catholic High School, 2011.

Copyright Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, 2011.