The new Panama City Lighthouse will be a testamonial to the heritage of Panama City and the four founding families that settled in Bay County at the turn of the century. Select the links below to learn about each of these four founding families:

Charles Stephen Anderson

George Washington Davis

Emory Marvin Hobbs

Charles Jackson Raffield

Each of these families played a significant role in the development of both the recreational and commercial fishing community in the area. Living in and around Bay County at the turn of the last century, these four founders and their offspring founded our commercial fishing industry as we know it today.

Panama City is one of the very few port cities that does not have a lighthouse. In fact there are 30 alone in Florida that date back as far as 0820. Our new lighhouse celebrates our new beginning and will offer our citizens a beautiful and scenic gathering place to remind all of us from whence we came.

Supported by the US Coast Guard, the Panama City Lighthouse will be a fully functional and approved nautical aid and will support passage into and out of St. Andrews Bay. The US Coast Guard's enthusiasm is evidenced by their donation of the beacon and supporting maintenance activities throughout the lighthouse's lifecycle.

The Panama City Lighthouse is set for completion for Panama City's 2009 centennial celebration.