Learn Bay County’s history at Panama City museum

PANAMA CITY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – When it comes to preserving Bay County’s history few museums do a better job of keeping it alive than the Panama City Publishing Company Museum in St. Andrews.

Every month they showcase a new exhibit and this September they will tell the story of Lillian West’s family, who founded the City of Callaway.

Lillian is the wife of George West who founded Panama City.

Items a part of the exhibit include photographs of Lillian’s ancestors, documents from her life, and other objects and facts.

Museum staff decided to display this specific exhibit so they could tell the full story of a person who sometimes does not get the credit she deserves.

“They’re going to learn a little bit about Lillian’s family. We know a lot about George coming down and starting Panama City,” said Panama City Publishing Company Museum Executive Director Lisa Barnes-Tapscott. “But some people don’t have any idea that Lillian’s family came down and started Callaway, and so this is almost all about that.”

You can go check out the exhibit on Tuesdays through Fridays from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. or on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There is no charge to see any of the exhibits and artifacts in the museum.

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