elcome to the Historical Society of Bay County (HSBC) website. Organized in 1936 to preserve the rich heritage of the area, the society sponsors a monthly meeting and lecture series featuring talks on topics of historical significance to the area. In 2014, the society opened the Bay County History Museum in order to share collected artifacts, photographs and documents with the community. Exhibits related to Bay County’s past are presented throughout the year.
The public is invited, regardless of membership and at no cost to enjoy both the lecture series and the Museum.

Visit Downtown and the Bay County History Museum

Come downtown to shop and tour the Museum.

Greetings!

New and exciting events are always in the works at the Bay County History Museum. Stop in for a visit as you enjoy the beautiful and walkable Downtown. The museum features exhibits, interesting stories and pictures that relate to our past. Shop the gift and book area where you can purchase those special ornaments featuring the historic downtown clock, saved from Hurrican Michael, the Tarpon or Panama City Centennial. We carry books featuring local writers that cannot be found elsewhere. While you are there be sure to check our schedule of speakers offered on the 4th Monday evening of each month in the Community Room of the Bay County Public Library. There is no admission to the Museum, but we do accept donations to defray operating expenses.

Museum Day 2025

It's International Museum Day and the Bay County History Museum is celebrating on May 17, 2025, from 9 am until 1 pm. Make sure your weekend plans include a visit to our museum as well as the West Publishing Museum in St. Andrews. Downtown we're setting up sidewalk tables where members will be ready to challenge you youngsters to a game of Checkers or Dominoes. Don't know how to play? They will teach you! and engage you in conversation as well! Inside see communication tools of the past. You may have to guess at some and try to figure out how they work. At 10 am and 1 pm, there will be a demonstration of Calligraphy. Can you read it? What about cursive? Watch this beautiful method of communication, now a lost art.

See what's in store for you at the Bay County History Museum.