In shallow water near downtown Pensacola lies the second oldest shipwreck ever found in US waters.

It was part of the 1559 Luna Expedition. Tristan de Luna was a conquistador ad governor charged with establishing the first Spanish settlement north of Mexico.

He sailed into Pensacola Bay with fifteen hundred people on board thirteen ships, but before they could even unload, a hurricane struck, sinking seven of the ships and all their contents.

In 1992, state underwater archaeologist Roger Smith found one of Luna's ships. Protected by the soft, muddy bottom of the bay was a major portion of the hull and many artifacts.

Among our extraordinary finds was the ship's ten-foot tall anchor, the encrusted bowl of a soldier's breastplate, and a silhouette carving of the ship herself. Deep in the bilge was a pool of liquid mercury and tiny remains of roaches and rats.

While this incredible shipwreck was preserved for us by a devastating hurricane that same 1559 storm also prevented Pensacola from becoming the nation's oldest city.

Dr. Judy Bense is founder of the UWF Archaeology Institute and Florida Public Archaeology Network. Unearthing Florida is produced by WUWF Public Media.