Panama City’s gorgeous beaches and various seasonal events make it a hotspot for tourists. Thousands of visitors, ranging from spring-breakers and families to retired travelers, flock to enjoy this little slice of paradise. What many people don’t realize is that Panama City is also home to a rich history. Tourists and locals alike can appreciate the various historical events that resulted in the area’s current culture. Check out this article to learn more about Panama City’s history and discover attractions that’ll fully immerse you in the past.
The Earliest Residents
Image via Flickr by jody.claborn licensed by Public Domain
For thousands of years, Native Americans inhabited the area that’s present-day Panama City. The ancient shell midden in Oaks by the Bay Park is evidence of the first residents who arrived during the last ice age around 13,000 years ago. This archeological site consists of mollusk shells and has preserved signs of the area’s first civilization. The shores of St. Andrews Bay contain more of these mollusk middens, which range from 2,500 to 5,000 years old and demonstrate the gradual shift from the prevalence of hunting to gathering. Additionally, these mollusks contain fossils of camels, mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and mastodons.
European Arrivals And New Tribes
In 700 A.D., Native Americans began building temples on the middens and developed a lucrative trade of shell goods. Their wares attracted sellers in places as far as New York and Minnesota, which was just one sign of the Native Americans’ complex contributions to society. By the time the Spanish arrived around 1500, the Chatot and Yucci tribes largely inhabited St. Andrews Bay in present-day Panama City. The Chatot became extinct after initial contact, and the Yucci avoided a similar fate by moving northwest.
Throughout the years, the area welcomed various settlers. Revolutionary War loyalists used the area to grow indigo and develop lucrative trades in lumbering and shipping materials. Several years later, in 1827, retired Georgia governor John Clark became one of the first permanent settlers near St. Andrews Bay by building a house with his wife. Panama City also welcomed Creeks and Cherokees who relocated to escape the Trail of Tears in the 1830s. During the Civil War, residents worked in saltworks and fisheries that the Union later destroyed.
Growing Population
Challenging living conditions and destruction from the Civil War left the Panama City area largely unsettled, but that would change as more people recognized the area’s opportunities. Companies like Ware Mercantile and Ware’s Wharf and the St. Andrews Bay Railroad, Land, and Mining Co. established themselves and made the area well-known for its salt, fishing, and shipping industries. Land plots became available for sale, and stark advertising campaigns encouraged people to move to the area and see everything it had to offer.
Official Establishment
Panama City officially became incorporated in 1909 by consolidating the smaller communities of St. Andrews, Harrison, Mortimer, and Floriopolis. Founder of the Bayline Railroad, A.B. Stelle, and city developer, George Mortimer West, chose the name in an attempt to boost real estate sales.
The name refers to the fact that the area was the U.S.’s closest mainland port to the Panama Canal. Additionally, the area sat on a direct rail line between Chicago and Panama. If you want to learn more about the city’s incorporation, consider visiting the Robert Lee McKenzie Home. This historic house was one of the first of its kind in largely unsettled northern Florida and helps you learn more about the city’s first mayor and founder of the Gulf Coast Development Company that helped Panama City become a major coastal center.
More Historical Attractions You Can Visit
Now that you know about the history of Panama City, here are some other significant sites you can visit to learn more about the past:
Panama City Publishing Museum
In addition to naming the city, West established Panama City’s first newspaper and built the Panama City Publishing Museum in 1920. Visitors can tour the museum for free and view original newspapers, photos, and equipment that helped record the town’s rich history. There are also demonstrations of printing using a press.
Hathway Bridge
The original Hathway Bridge replaced the St. Andrews Bay Bridge in 1959. A few decades later, the state issued funding for the construction of the present-day Hathway Bridge so that it could carry more users. In addition to facilitating fast transit between Panama City and Panama City Beach, this bridge is a marvel of modern engineering. If you need a new vehicle to get you over this impressive structure, visit Panama City Toyota today.
Gideon v. Wainwright Case Historical Marker
If you walk by the Bay County Courthouse, you’ll notice the Gideon v. Wainwright case historical marker just outside. It commemorates the famous 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case that ruled that the sixth amendment gives defendants the right to counsel in criminal trials. This landmark decision was essential in promoting defendant rights and ensuring a fair justice system. The marker features an accompanying 12-page booklet and a map to view other nearby historical sites. Additionally, you can appreciate the marvel that is the Bay County Courthouse, as it’s one of only five original Florida courthouses still in use.
Southernmost Union Soldier Monument
Slightly north of Panama City, Lynn Haven was established as a retirement community for Union soldiers. The town built a bronze statue of a Union soldier in 1920, and it continues to stand tall today. It’s an interesting landmark, as it’s the only structure honoring Union soldiers south of the Mason-Dixon line. Visitors appreciate this gesture, as it shows growth from Florida being part of the Confederacy during the Civil War and represents healing rifts between the two sides.
As you can see, Panama City is much more than just a beach town with fun seasonal events. Looking beyond the surface reveals a long and interesting issue influenced by the original Native American inhabitants, the arrival of Europeans, and the establishment of the first official settlements. We hope you explore all the attractions we’ve discussed so that you can gain a greater appreciation for this diverse city. If you learn anything interesting on your adventures or discover more attractions to visit, let us know.
