Archaeologists from the University of West Florida excavated Hawkshaw in 1984-5. They recovered artifacts from the Native American, Spanish, British, and American Periods.
In the 1980s, Gulf Power, known today as Florida Power and Light (FPL), bought land in the historic Hawkshaw neighborhood to build their new corporate office. Prior to construction, the University of West Florida’s (UWF) Dr. Judith Bense led an archaeological excavation of the site which garnered a lot of public attention.
The Hawkshaw site is located in downtown Pensacola, just a few blocks from Palafox Street.
These excavations uncovered a Native American settlement from the Deptford period (0-250 AD), which included the discovery of a new type of ceramic named “Hawkshaw Stamped”. Also know as “Hawkshaw Impressed,” the type is differentiated by the use of local Bahia grass impressions and rocker stamping.
In the late 19th century, the busy port and railroad provided jobs for Pensacola’s growing working class. The Hawkshaw neighborhood became home to many of the predominately African American dock and industrial workers. While the origins of the “Hawkshaw” name are unknown, it is recorded on early 20th century documents like the postcard on the right. By the mid-20th century commercialization turned Hawkshaw into a business district, culminating in the Gulf Power Building.
