20th Anniversary Of Local Historic Signage Program

BAY COUNTY, FL - The St. Andrews Historic Signage program was created around 2005 as a way to increase awareness about local history and instill community pride in honoring that history.

St. Andrews sign applications are processed through the Panama City Publishing Company Museum (museum@historicstandrews.com) and the sign is identified with the St. Andrews ship wheel logo. The signs can feature just the historic name of the property, or up to 125 words telling the history, and the year built or relevant to the site. Volunteers at the museum help complete the research. The signs are paid for by the property owner, and cost $95 - $125 each.

The Historical Society of Bay County adopted and tailored the program for properties in downtown Panama City, the Cove, Millville, and properties east of Balboa Avenue, the original Panama City/St. Andrews city limit line. For more Information, visit their web site at www.baycohistory.org.

In recent months, the City of Panama City has unveiled a number of local historic signs in the Glenwood community. Destination Panama City hosts an online tour that can be found at www.destinationpanamacity.com

The local programs in no way restrict a property owner’s rights. Even listing on the National Register of Historic Places doesn’t stop changes or demolition according to www.nps.gov: …the listing of a property in the National Register places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property up to and including destruction, unless the property is involved in a project that receives Federal assistance, usually funding or licensing/permitting.