Step Beneath the Shadows of Old Pensacola
Beneath the moss-draped live oaks of Plaza Ferdinand and the shaded brick sidewalks of South Palafox lies a Pensacola the postcards never show. Long before this was a quiet historic district, these two blocks were the raw beating heart of a turbulent frontier port—a crossroads of deepwater schooners, dockside saloons, short fuses, and unwritten codes where early justice was often paid in blood.
Led by retired Pensacola Police investigator and author Michael Earl Simmons, the Sweet Tea Murders Walking Tour leaves behind manufactured ghost stories and cheap theatrics to uncover authentic, documented history. Over the course of an unhurried 75-minute walk spanning two centuries (1763–1975), you’ll trace the exact perimeter where six chilling chapters of murder, mystery, and retribution unfolded:
- 1763: A newly arrived royal governor meets an untimely, shadowed end behind locked doors.
- 1833: A broad-daylight assassination of Pensacola’s sitting mayor settled with heavy buckshot.
- 1882: A deadly dockside clash between an elite harbor pilot and a waterfront sailor that sparked a street vendetta.
- 1899: A broken courtship that ended in a cottage ambush—and the courthouse courtyard execution hanging that Pensacola remembered for many years.
- 1914: High-noon gunfire inside the county building and the sensational “unwritten law” trial that had crowds cheering along Palafox.
- 1975: The somewhat humorous capture of three armed robbers – two were escapees from state prison – fleeing justice.
Examine the original case files, primitive forensics, and surprising verdicts through the eyes of an investigator who actually worked the watch.
- Departure: Steps off promptly at 4:00 PM from Bodacious (407 S. Palafox St.)
- Route: An easy, accessible two-block circuit around Plaza Ferdinand and historic Main, Jefferson, and Government Streets
- Duration: ~75 minutes
- Schedule: Weekly tours running September 19 through May 22, 2027
- Atmosphere: Archival, engaging, and strictly non-graphic (Recommended for ages 12+)
The streets still whisper.
Our tours take place every other Saturday from 4:00 – 5:15. For meeting time, location, and tickets, go to: https://www.viator.com/tours/Pensacola/Crimes-Around-the-Plaza-Walking-Tour/d23182-5672792P1?newOnViator=1. Private and Special Event Tours are available. Contact us at theoldman@michaelearlsimmons.com.
Daily Old Southern Crime Stories Served with Sweet Tea & a Side of Shadows
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