On Dec. 20, the Pensacola Children’s Museum will reopen to the public with a new exhibit, “Our Town: A Space for All,” featuring historic businesses and sites inspired by Pensacola landmarks.
- The museum is also debuting a new, publicly accessible sensory space, “Calming Seas Sensory Space,” the first of its kind in Northwest Florida. Both the exhibit and sensory space were funded through IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area with a $100,670 grant.
“We are grateful for the support of IMPACT 100,” said Rob Overton, executive director for the University of West Florida Historic Trust. “Their gift allows us to preserve Pensacola’s rich history by placing it directly in the hands of our children.”
In the Our Town exhibit, which is on the museum’s first floor, young guests can explore a reimagined town center that includes the Silas Stearns Fishing Smack, Pensacola Dairy Bar Milk Bottle Diner, My Town Mural, Garden Street Toddler Spot, Frisco Train Station, Pride of Pensacola Tiny Tot Train, Germania Hose Company Fire Station and Theo’s Construction House.
Theo’s Construction House is dedicated to Theophalis May (1927–2006), the father of County Commissioner Lumon May. Rev. May began work in construction in 1950. He built and maintained Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on West Blount Street, where he served as pastor for 38 years. His company, May’s Construction Company, became famous for moving, demolishing and restoring historic buildings.
His restoration projects included:
- The L&N Marine Terminal Building
- Rafford Hall
- The Imogene Theatre in Milton
- The Walton House
- Moreno Cottage
- The Tivoli High House
- The Dorr House
The Pensacola Children’s Museum is part of the UWF Historic Trust properties and sites. Located at 115 East Zaragoza Street in Downtown Pensacola, the Pensacola Children’s Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
For more information about the UWF Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.
In June 2024, I interviewed Commissioner May about his father.
“My father to me was just a great man. His mom died in childbirth; his father died when he was five. He was homeless all the way until he went into the Navy at age 15. He served at Annapolis in the kitchen as a kitchen helper in World War II. And he often said the first time he ever had a pair of shoes, the first time he ever was full was because of going in the Navy. ”
