The Pensacola Lighthouse, built in 1859, stands tall at the entrance to Pensacola Bay, offering sweeping views of the Gulf Coast and a glimpse into the area’s maritime past. Nearby, Fort Pickens, a 19th-century brick fort once used during the Civil War, showcases coastal defenses and history among its massive walls and scenic shoreline. Pensacola is also home to the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, who dazzle crowds with their world-famous air shows based at Naval Air Station Pensacola.