Panama City Publishing Company Museum

Panama City Publishing Company Museum Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Panama City Publishing Company Museum, Community Museum, 1134 Beck Avenue, Panama City, FL.

For visitors of all ages, the Museum preserves and exhibits local history, cultural resources, operates the vintage presses in the print shop, and shares the stories of George and Lillian West and their influence in developing Panama City and Bay County.

Recharge your creative spirit with an art break in Historic St. Andrews!In coordination with Floriopolis , we will have ...
08/30/2026

Recharge your creative spirit with an art break in Historic St. Andrews!

In coordination with Floriopolis , we will have free paper crafts from 1 – 5 p.m.

There will be art experiences for kids & adults, all over Historic St. Andrews from noon to 6 p.m., thanks to our spectacular merchants and our generous sponsor, The St. Joe Community Foundation, Inc.

Rain or shine, inside and out.

08/29/2026

Steve Wiggins is in the house, playing in the museum this afternoon!!

Step into history with us and celebrate the extraordinary life of Lillian Carlisle West!Born in Alabama on August 30, 18...
08/25/2026

Step into history with us and celebrate the extraordinary life of Lillian Carlisle West!

Born in Alabama on August 30, 1884, Lillian arrived in St. Andrews Bay by covered wagon at age 17 in 1901. Her family's land grant from 1856 became the heart of Callaway, Florida, where they built a store and post office. By 1908, Lillian was already a community leader, serving as Secretary of the St. Andrews Bay Ladies Improvement Association. She married George M. West in 1909.

Lillian helped construct the Panama City Publishing Company in 1920, the same year she became the first woman registered to vote in St. Andrews. After George’s passing in 1926, she ran three weekly newspapers and mentored dozens of young employees. Even after selling the newspapers in 1937, she continued to make an impact, living in her hand-built log cabin until her passing in 1970.

Explore Lillian's love letters, “Ever Yours, Lillian,” and discover her lasting influence on Bay County at our museum. Dive into the lives that shaped our community!

Celebrate Play Music on the Porch Day with us on Saturday, August 29! We are excited to offer live music by Steve Wiggin...
08/18/2026

Celebrate Play Music on the Porch Day with us on Saturday, August 29! We are excited to offer live music by Steve Wiggins from 3 to 5 p.m. The acoustics are lovely in this 106 year old building! This event is free and open to the public.

Another local history mystery solved! Follow this story...George West wrote in his diaries in 1889: February 25th, 52 de...
08/15/2026

Another local history mystery solved!

Follow this story...George West wrote in his diaries in 1889: February 25th, 52 degrees, cloudy. Partly cloudy day – Hawk (Massalina) over at 6:30 am. Went to Wiley's – took pictures – then to Hurricane (Island) – got shells. Home at 6:30 Pm. Nice days work.

The map image shows Hawk's trip to the West property (blue line) and then Hawk and George's boat trip to Wiley's and Hurricane Island (red line).

In the museum collection and digitized in the Library catalog is a photo West took and across the bottom is written "Wiley's place". The mystery for years has been where was Wiley's place?

A local resident found a photo of Major Wood's house on St. Andrews Bay from ebay. We searched the Bay County Clerk's online deeds for property owned by Major Wood. A deed, and 2 tax deeds were found. The location was on Davis Point (Tyndall AFB), adjacent to property Jose Massalina owned and lived upon since 1883. The tax deeds Major Wood acquired were to Wiley's land! Then a newspaper article from the digitized St. Andrews Bay News was found, describing Major Wood's location in 1927.

Thank you to the local interest, and partners: Matthew Spittler at the Bay County Clerk of Court & Comptroller records office, Hannah Kania in Local History at the Bay County Public Library , and the Panama City Publishing Company Museum volunteers. Another history mystery solved that helps tell the story of Bay County!

The selection of printed gifts available for purchase is growing at the museum! Typesetting done by museum volunteers, a...
08/13/2026

The selection of printed gifts available for purchase is growing at the museum! Typesetting done by museum volunteers, and they print using the 1915 Chandler & Price press. These bar pad coasters won't last long! A unique gift to pick up!

Ever wonder what made the headlines in Panama City in the 1920s and 30s? Or wonder how so many newspapers could be print...
08/12/2026

Ever wonder what made the headlines in Panama City in the 1920s and 30s? Or wonder how so many newspapers could be printed in one day? The Panama City Publishing Company, founded by George and Lillian West, ran three local publications with the help of the Whitlock Pony Press. This small press quickly became the industry standard and allowed the Wests to print their three publications, the St. Andrews Bay News, the Lynn Haven Free Press, and the Panama City Pilot.

Come visit the historic Panama City Publishing Company Museum to read the original front pages that shaped our community, and learn the inspiring story of George and Lillian West. It’s a hands-on experience for all ages.

The votes have been counted, the certificates have been awarded, and Lila Rue The Salty Dog Mayor has done an outstand...
08/05/2026

The votes have been counted, the certificates have been awarded, and Lila Rue The Salty Dog Mayor has done an outstanding job overseeing the tally!

The Letterpress by the Bay exhibit is now featuring this year's award-winning pieces, and we invite you to stop by the museum to see the winners along with the incredible collection of letterpress prints on display.

Come celebrate the creativity and craftsmanship of the printers who made this show such a success. You can also learn more about our local letterpress history while you're here!

Today’s the day! 🎉 Join us for the Letterpress by the Bay exhibit reception from 4–6pm. Check out this sneak peek of our...
07/25/2026

Today’s the day! 🎉 Join us for the Letterpress by the Bay exhibit reception from 4–6pm. Check out this sneak peek of our hand-crafted awards certificate, made with vintage type by one of our awesome volunteers.
Swing by for awards, celebration, and all things letterpress!

Certified good girl and retired Salty Dog Mayor Ginger paid us a visit yesterday! 🐾 She checked out the Letterpress by t...
07/23/2026

Certified good girl and retired Salty Dog Mayor Ginger paid us a visit yesterday! 🐾 She checked out the Letterpress by the Bay exhibit and voted for the “People’s Choice” award. Cast your vote by Friday at 5pm, and don’t miss our reception and awards this Saturday, 4–6pm!

Address

1134 Beck Avenue
Panama City, FL
32401

Opening Hours

Tuesday 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Thursday 1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+18508727208

Website

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