Emanuel Point Shipwreck Site

Emanuel Point Shipwreck Site is an underwater location containing two Spanish colonial vessels from the 16th century in Pensacola Bay. The wooden remains sit beneath layers of ballast stones and sediment, with the seafloor conditions having preserved the wrecks reasonably well.

The vessels belonged to Don Tristán de Luna's fleet, which arrived in 1559 with eleven ships to establish a Spanish colony. The settlement attempt failed and the ships sank in the bay, making these wrecks important evidence of early colonial efforts.

The pottery, tools, and armor pieces found here show what daily life was like on colonial ships and how sailors worked. These objects reveal the practical items and goods that Spanish seafarers carried on their voyages.

The site lies on the seafloor beneath several meters of water and is regularly investigated by research teams. Visitors should know that this is an active scientific excavation and access may be limited to professional supervision.

These wrecks rank among the oldest documented shipwrecks in Florida and among the oldest in North America. Their importance lies in offering a direct window into the earliest Spanish colonial attempts on the Gulf Coast.

Location: Escambia County

GPS coordinates: 30.34000,-87.23000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:44