Public involvement is the heart of the archaeology program at UWF. Archaeologists from the Institute and Anthropology Department strive to include the public every step of the way in all archaeology endeavors, large or small. This reputation of archaeological outreach brings the community and university closer together through the shared experience of uncovering the past of Pensacola and northwest Florida. Discovering and exploring sites is an exciting part of archaeology and help is always welcome! Volunteers work side-by-side with UWF students, staff and professors, sharing ideas and new insights into the past.

UWF archaeology involves the public in many ways

Volunteer Opportunities

Members of the public are welcomed as volunteers in the field and in the lab. The Pensacola Archaeology Society also provides an opportunity for interested citizens to learn more about and become more involved in local archaeology.

Talks and Tours

UWF archaeologists often provide free talks on archaeological topics and tours of archaeological sites to civic clubs, special interest groups and local schools. Many UWF excavations are conducted in places that are accessible to the community. When this is not possible, special tours or archaeology days are arranged to bring the public to the digs, whether maritime or terrestrial.

Museums, Exhibits and Parks

Pensacola and the surrounding area brim with indoor and outdoor museums and exhibits, many of them related to UWF excavations, that illuminate the history of the region.

Media Exposure

Since the early 1980s, archaeology in Pensacola has been covered many times by the local, national and international media. News coverage not only exposes more people to the area's archaeology, but also increases awareness of the need to act as stewards of the irreplaceable remains of the past.

Venue Space

The Archaeology Institute, with its sleek and informative exhibits on Pensacola history, provides an ideal venue for large receptions or small gatherings.

While not affiliated with UWF, there are many other places in and around Pensacola where the public can learn more about the region's archaeology and history:

• The Indian Temple Mound Museum, located in Fort Walton Beach, displays artifacts from the prehistory and history of northwest Florida. Located on the museum grounds, a Native American temple mound calls attention to the fascinating prehistory of the Florida panhandle.
• The Gulf Islands National Seashore, managed by the National Park Service, stretches from Mississippi to Florida and includes both natural and cultural resources. On the Naval Air Station, visitors can tour Fort Barrancas, the Advanced Redoubt and the second Pensacola Lighthouse. Boaters, hikers and bikers can visit Fort Pickens on the western tip of Santa Rosa Island (Pensacola Beach). Due to Hurricane Ivan, road access to Fort Pickens is currently closed. The Naval Live Oaks Reserve, located on the Gulf Breeze peninsula, is an excellent place to learn about historic wooden shipbuilding and the local environment. All sites are free to the public.
• Historic Pensacola Village, in downtown Pensacola, has many renovated historic buildings and living history exhibits. Docents in period clothing guide visitors through the various homes in the village several times each day.
• The National Museum of Naval Aviation, also on the Naval Air Station, is one of the best air and space museums in the country. Over 140 restored aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard can be viewed everyday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except for major holidays. The museum is free.
• Florida's Underwater Archaeological Preserves include the USS Massachusetts, a U.S. naval vessel commissioned in 1896 and sunk just outside Pensacola Bay in 1921. The site is free and open to the skin and scuba diving public.