The North American Society for Oceanic History and
co-sponsored by the Council of American Maritime Museums

Hosted by the University of West Florida
Pensacola, Florida

2008 Annual Conference

Pensacola, FL

7-11 May 2008

"Defining the Maritime Edge: The History and Archaeology of Inland Environments, Coastal Encounters and Blue Water Connections"

2008 Conference

2008 Conference Program Co-Chairs
Victor T. Mastone, Program Committee Co-Chair
Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources
251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
Boston, MA 02114-2199
Email: victor.mastone@state.ma.us

John O. Jensen, Program Committee Co-Chair
Sea Education Association
P.O. Box 6
Woods Hole, MA 02543
Email: jensenheritage@cox.net

2008 Program Coordinator
Amy Mitchell-Cook
Department of History
University of West Florida
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL 32514
Email: amitchellcook@uwf.edu

Conference Location:

The annual conference for the North American Society for Oceanic History and the Council of American Maritime Museums will be hosted by the University of West Florida in historic Pensacola, Florida. Known as the "City of Five Flags," Pensacola has over 450 years of recorded history as Spain, France, England, the United States and the Confederacy each sought to take control of this valuable maritime port. The weather should be relatively mild along the Gulf in early May and the conference venue is located within easy walking distance to conference accommodations, restaurants, shopping and downtown entertainment.

Accommodations:

The Conference Hotel is the Crowne Plaza Grand Hotel, http://www.pensacolagrandhotel.com/
Conference rate is $125.00 per night, plus tax. To make your reservations by phone, please call 1-800-381-9553 and ask for the special rate for the NASOH UWF NAS (group code - NAS). You can also register through their website http://www.pensacolagrandhotel.com/

The Crowne Plaze is offering a special federal employee rate of $105.00 per night, plus tax. To make your reservations by phone, please call the hotel directly (1-850-433-336) and ask for the special rate for the NASOH UWF rate (group code - NAS) or NASOH UWF Federal rate (group code - FED). Ask for Linda Craul in sales for further assistance if you experience problems.

Days Inn.
Days Inn: Pensacola is about one mile north of the historic district, where the receptions and other events will be held. Although it is not in the historic district, the hotel has the Olde Towne Cavern Pub and the Yuca Latino Restaurant on premises. The conference rate is $62.00 a night, plus tax. To make reservations, call 1-850-438-4922 and the group code is NASO for the conference rate.

For the Days Inn, go south on I-110 until you reach exit 2 (Cervantes St.). Turn right onto Cervantes and move into the left lane. The hotel is one block on the left at the intersection of Cervantes and Palafox.

Other Accommodations:
Pensacola Beach offers a variety of hotels and is only a 15 minute drive from the Crowne Plaza. Just a few of the possibilities include:

Comfort Inn: Toll-Free: 800-934-5470 http://pensacolabeach.com/comfort/
Hampton Inn: Toll-Free: 800-320-8108 or go to their website: www.hamptonbeachresort.com
Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front: Toll-Free: 866-916-2999 or go to their website: www.hiltongardeninn.com

Transportation Directions to the Crown Plaza:

Travel by Air:
There is only one airport in Pensacola (PNS) http://www.flypensacola.com/ and it serves most major carriers. The Crowne Plaza does offer free shuttle service to and from the airport.

You can also check Mobile (MOB), which is about a 45 minute drive from the west. http://www.mobairport.com/.
Other options include, New Orleans' Louis Armstrong (MSY) Airport, which is approximately three hours away http://www.flymsy.com/

Travel by Automobile:
The main interstate through Pensacola is I-10, which connects with I-110 (exit 12) to take you downtown.
For the Crowne Plaza, go south on I-110 until you reach exit 1A (Gregory St.). Follow the exit as it curves left and it will empty onto Gregory St. The Crowne Plaza will be immediately on your right.
For the Seville Inn, go south on I-110 until you reach exit 1C (Garden St.). Follow the exit as it curves right and move into the left lane. The Seville Inn will be immediately on your left. You will have to do a U-turn across Garden St. to reach the Seville Inn.

Please check back periodically for updates regarding tours and other information.