Luna statue debate

On Thursday, Celebrate Pensacola and the City of Pensacola unveiled at the foot of Palafox Street a statue of Spanish explorer Don Tristan de Luna. In the months leading up to the ceremony, there was considerable debate over which direction the statue would face. If he faced north – looking up Palafox, Luna would have his back to Pensacola Bay and Pensacola Beach. If he faced south towards the bay, the people driving down Palafox would be looking at his butt. Some even offered a compromise that would have him facing west. Yes, these are the type of debates that we have in Pensacola.

In the end, the decision was to let the statue “moon” Pensacola Bay, Pensacola Beach and Gulf Breeze.

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Author: Rick Outzen

Rick Outzen is the publisher/owner of Pensacola Inweekly. He has been profiled in The New York Times and featured in several True Crime documentaries. Rick also is the author of the award-winning Walker Holmes thrillers. His latest nonfiction book is “Right Idea, Right Time: The Fight for Pensacola’s Maritime Park.”