PUBLISHING MUSEUM




Museum Hours:

Tuesday - Friday
1 - 5:30 p.m.

Saturday
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Learn more about the St. Andrews community by taking a guided historic walking tour.
The tour starts at 1 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday and begins at the Museum.

At the museum you will see the personal and business artifacts of the Wests, learn about operation of the vintage printing equipment, and enjoy a different exhibit on the gallery wall each month.


We welcome groups of all ages but please call ahead for scheduling a group tour that includes printing press demonstrations and children’s activities.

George Mortimer West, a writer, promoter, economist, horticulturist, publisher, railroader, attorney, photographer, and entrepreneur, is credited as the founding father of Panama City, developing it into an economically viable city on the shores of St. Andrews Bay. He and his third wife Lillian Carlisle West, built this Panama City Publishing Company building in 1920, in the heart of historic St. Andrews.


The building served as the home of Panama City’s first newspapers, including the Panama City Pilot, the St. Andrews Bay News, and Lynn Haven Free Press. They also did commercial job printing such as letterhead, invoices, envelopes, etc. West died in 1926, and “Miss Lillian,” continued to run the business. She was an extraordinary businesswoman for her time, and the first woman registered to vote in St. Andrews. Miss Lillian sold the newspapers to John Perry, owner of the Panama City Herald in 1937, and he merged the papers into the current Panama City News Herald.


In addition to photos, newspapers, and documents, produced by Mr. West, the building houses more than 70 major historical items, including original printing presses and office furnishings, which were still in use by Mr. West’s great-great grandson Charles (Buddy) West, who operated the business until the City of Panama City purchased the building in October 2005, restored it, and opened it as a museum in 2008.


View our digital archive here.


Additional Resources:

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please complete our volunteer application.


Volunteers assist with:

Museum Docent — greet visitors and share the history of the museum as well as St. Andrews. No experience necessary!


Press On Print Shop – Learn the printing craft using the type, plates, and 1915 press. Express your creativity! There are also print shop organizing tasks to help make it run more efficiently. Assist in hands on crafts and demonstrations when groups are scheduled.


Collections and Exhibits – Monthly exhibits are developed for the temporary display wall and volunteers are welcome to join us. An annual schedule of topics is planned, then research into old newspapers and photos is conducted, and exhibits are developed. Volunteers also manage the archived document collection.


Museum Operations and Procedures – Volunteers perform a variety of projects and tasks for the museum based on the Museum’s Management Plan.

Museum Membership

Joining the Panama City Publishing Company Museum:

- helps fund historic preservation in St. Andrews

- supports educational outreach and workshops

- funds educational supplies and discovery labs

- provides support for special museum projects

- sponsors exhibits and collections care


Members help sustain programs that support the preservation of St. Andrew's history and the history of printing and publishing and engage our community. The Museum, the Print Shop, permanent and rotating museum exhibits, educational and historical programs and workshops, and other community events are made possible through memberships.


Membership is based on a calendar year, but the membership drive will begin each October.


More details can be found in our membership brochure and payment can be made here.

Donate to the Museum Collection

If you have an artifact that matches our collection's time frame and purpose, we would love to consider incorporating it into the collection. Please contact us to discuss your item and our Museum Committee will determine whether your piece would fit into our collection.


Another way to make a difference at the Panama City Publishing Company Museum is to sponsor the restoration of an artifact at the Museum.


Finally, the Panama City Publishing Company Museum has an ever-changing wish list with operations, preservation, and educational needs. Financial, artifact, and wish list items can be gifted as a tax deduction.


For more information regarding tax-deductible gifts, please contact Executive Director Lisa Barnes-Tapscott at 850-872-7208 or Museum@HistoricStAndrews.com.