The first floor of the Norman Simons Building is The Beacon Room. This was the home of the Beacon Club back in the 1960's and early 1970's--a hotspot for local teenagers. Teens would dance to the music of Deacon John and the Ivories and cool off with Coke Floats. Today, the Pensacola Historical Society rents the space for meetings, parties and receptions.

The Beacon before the Pensacola Historical Society

The spacious lobby of the Norman Simons Building leads into The Beacon Room. The lobby is beautifully decorated with large prints of Pensacola's past. Off of the lobby are separate facilities for men and women.

The Beacon is a tile floored reception hall. The walls are decorated with historical prints of Pensacola, and a large painting of the Navy Yard by local artist Ada Wilson Green. At the rear of the Beacon is the original sailfish from the Pensacola Beach sailfish sign. This sailfish has illuminated the way to Pensacola Beach for over forty years, and now it can illuminate your party.

Tables and chairs are available for dinner receptions and meetings or the floor can be cleared for dancing the evening away. Mood lighting and disco ball are available. Tables and chairs provided to seat 100 people.

The Kitchen

The kitchen offers a large capacity refrigerator, a double capacity sink, a commercial ice machine, a restaurant style coffee maker, and a large warming oven. The kitchen offers ample counter space for working and shelves for storage.

As an added bonus, the kitchen offers a shuttered serving window, which can be opened to serve from the kitchen or closed to keep the kitchen separate from the event.