In 1833, Pensacola was still a rough young frontier town—a place where disputes could turn deadly and justice could end at the gallows.
Sixty-seven years later, in 1900, another man faced the hangman for a murder that had shocked the community. By then, Pensacola had changed considerably—but murder, fear and the demand for justice had not.
Who were the condemned men?
What crimes carried them to the gallows?
And what did their final moments reveal about two very different eras of Pensacola justice?
Those are only two of the fascinating stories waiting along the streets surrounding Plaza Ferdinand.
Following a sold-out inaugural tour, Sweet Tea Murders Walking Tour: Crimes Around the Plaza returns for an encore on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
Join Michael Earl Simmons—former homicide detective and police historian—for an evening walk through some of Pensacola’s oldest streets. Along the way, you will hear true stories of murder, violence, investigation and punishment dating from 1833 to 1914.
These are not legends, ghost stories or modern crimes. They are carefully researched pieces of Pensacola history—stories connected to the streets, buildings and people of the city’s forgotten past.
The tour is approximately one-quarter mile and lasts about one hour.
But consider yourself warned: after hearing what happened around the Plaza, downtown Pensacola may never look quite the same again.
Sweet Tea Murders Walking Tour: Crimes Around the Plaza
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Tickets: sweetteamurders.com
Space is limited—and the first tour sold out.
