Bay County Historical Society

09/28/2026

09/12/2026

This wonderful photo was taken at Miracle Strip Amusement Park before it opened to the general public. These passengers are the very first to ride the Starliner after it was proven safe to operate. The brave little girl in the first car doesn't appear to be scared at all.

09/10/2026

Come enjoy the Monthly Program sponsored by the Historical Society of Bay County, September 28, 2026 at the Bay County Public Library
Title: " Preserving Our Past:
Heritage Monitoring Scouts"
The Historical Society of Bay County is pleased to host Kate Schreiber, who will present a program about the “Heritage Monitoring Scouts” (HMS) from 6 to 7 pm. Created by the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN), the Heritage Monitoring Scouts program is a community science initiative that helps monitor and document cultural sites at risk from erosion, sea-level rise, development, and other human-caused threats. HMS Florida depends on volunteers who are trained as “Scouts” through online and learn how to visit archaeological sites, cemeteries, and historic buildings and document their condition. This information helps archaeologists and planners identify sites that may need attention and prioritize efforts to protect Florida’s cultural heritage and local history.
Ms. Schreiber is a graduate student at the University of West Florida, pursuing a master’s degree in historical archaeology. She also serves as a graduate assistant and Heritage Monitoring Scouts Program Coordinator with the Florida Public Archaeology Network.
See YOU at the Bay County Public Library!
898 W. 11th Street, Panama City, Florida
⏰Monday, 9/28/26 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm
The program is free and open to members and the public.
Seating is limited to the first 100 guests.

09/09/2026

Tourists wade out to get a close-up view of Mullet fishermen at work on Panama City Beach. Surf is almost nonexistent on this sunny day. That makes it easier for the fishermen to seine the mullet and easy for curious tourist to get close to the action.

09/08/2026

Carter Craft of Parker, Florida was a sales leader of wooden runabouts in Florida during the 50s and 60s. Carter Craft was the preferred brand by Cypress Gardens for their water-ski shows and by Ross Allen when he would jump into Silver Springs to wrestle an alligator. Carter Craft had many dealerships throughout the nation and were very popular in the lake country of the mid-western states. This ad was published in a variety of boating magazines.

09/08/2026

Come enjoy historical exhibits and get into the Oktoberfest spirit with a FREE, fun photo opportunity! Step into our Oktoberfest photo display, put your face in the hole, and capture a memory to share with family and friends. See you at the "Museum"!

09/07/2026

Sometime in the early 60s, a Spanish cannon was dug up during the excavation of an expansion of the Escape Motel on Panama City Beach. The first Spaniards to visit our coast were members of the Narváez Expedition in 1528. However, they had no cannon. In fact, they had no clothes. It's an amazing story. Read the account by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca.

09/06/2026

The Surber brothers of Pretty Bayou were famous for their boat building skills. However, they were not limited to boats. They constructed the Bank of St. Andrew in 1907. Precast, concrete blocks were a brand new technology at the time. Note the barrels of cement and pile of oyster shells in the lower-left image. The footer appears to have a freshly cast section of concrete with oyster shells as an aggregate. The boat is the "Coca-Cola Kid." It and "Coca-Cola Bill" were made for the Vickery Brothers Bottling Company around the same time.