Pelicans in Paradise is a public art project developed by the Pensacola News Journal showcasing the talent of local artists. Proceeds from the sale of these Pelicans provides newspapers in our schools to improve student literacy and raise reading levels.
The pelican statues are created of reinforced fiberglass and are decorated by various artists, selected by the statues’ sponsors, and placed at various indoor and outdoor locations around the Pensacola area. Pelicans in Paradise was inspired by the similar Cow Parade project, which Pensacola News Journal president & publisher Denise Ivey witnessed during a 2002 trip to Portland, Oregon. Each fiberglass pelican is nearly 5 feet tall and weighs about 70 pounds; each pelican sits on a 48 inch by 40 inch, 450-pound cement “perch.”
There were originally 41 Pelicans in Paradise, however there have been several more “flights” over the years and there are reportedly more than 70 now in existence. Many have had makeovers or have flown away to different nests but we’re on a mission to locate and map them all. The pelicans on the map above note the confirmed locations of Pelicans in Paradise statues, the question marks note reported or previous locations. If you’d like to help us locate the missing birds and preserve this bit of Pensacola history, please send your sighting information and photos (you’ll get photo credit!) to us at support@dopensacola.com. Check out the photo gallery below or you can click their locations on the map above to see their pictures.