Located in City Hall’s first-floor lobby, 222 W. Main St., the exhibit highlights the Greater Pensacola Area’s vital role during World War II, with a focus on Naval Air Station Pensacola and its network of auxiliary air stations — which served as a premier Naval Air Training Center. The installation also explores the broader impacts of WWII on both the local community and the nation.
“The designation as Florida’s only American World War II Heritage City is an honor and an opportunity to share Pensacola’s remarkable history across the state and nation,” Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said. “With this exhibit, we continue to celebrate the generations of service, sacrifice and resilience that shaped our community and ensure that these stories continue to inspire others for years to come.”
WWII veterans, their families, community members, and partners are invited to attend this special event, which will serve as a permanent tribute to Pensacola’s World War II history.
What?
An American World War II Heritage City is a special honorary designation granted by the National Park Service to one city or jurisdiction in each U.S. state or territory in recognition of its significant contributions to the American home front during World War II and ongoing efforts to preserve and honor that legacy.
- Background: The idea for the World War II Heritage City program was originated by Wilbur D. Jones Jr., a retired United States Navy captain and military historian, in 2008. President Donald Trump made the designation law in an act sponsored by Senator Thom Tillis and Representative David Rouzer, and signed it into law in 2019. In September 2020, Wilmington, North Carolina, was designated the first World War II Heritage City.
Pensacola learned of the designation in December 2022. The application for the American World War II Heritage City was a joint effort by the City of Pensacola and Escambia County, with support from local elected officials, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Gulf Islands National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service), University of West Florida Historic Trust, Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources, and veteran-related groups.
- Pensacola and Escambia County are now featured on the National Park Service website as an American World War II Heritage City, highlighting the area’s military history during World War II. Historical highlights for Pensacola and Escambia include the most dramatic example of increased military presence in Florida during World War II, along with the largest number of Army Air Fields and Naval Air Stations in the state
Selection and Criteria
- Only one city per state or territory can be recognized.
- Eligibility depends on a city’s impact on the war effort (e.g., industrial production, military training sites, or other home front activities) and dedication to preserving its military heritage since the war.
- The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for designations, and cities must either apply or be nominated.
Other American World War II Heritage Cities
- Foley, Alabama
- Tempe, Arizona
- Richmond, California
- East Hartford, Connecticut
- Wilmington, Delaware
- Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia
- Evansville, Indiana
- Waterloo, Iowa
- Wichita, Kansas
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Baltimore County, Maryland
- Springfield, Massachusetts
- Pascagoula, Mississippi
- Johnson County and Warrensburg, Missouri
- Lewistown, Montana
- Hastings, Nebraska
- Boulder City and Henderson, Nevada
- Paterson, New Jersey
- Los Alamos County, New Mexico
- Yonkers, New York
- Wilmington, North Carolina
- Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- South Texas Bend area and Corpus Christi, Texas
- Bedford County, Virginia
- Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and West Richland), Washington
- Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Casper and Natrona County, Wyoming
- Calhoun and Ouachita Counties, Arkansas
- Plymouth Township, Michigan
- Valley City, North Dakota
- Municipality of Tinian & Aguiguan, Northern Mariana Islands
- Ponca City and Kay County, Oklahoma
- North Kingstown, Rhode Island
- Sumter City and Sumter County, South Carolina
- Ogden, Utah
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