Our History
Panama City Garden Club was founded in 1935 with Mrs. Louise Blackshear as Chairman. Meetings were held in homes, restaurants, and hotels, even during WWII.
To memorialize the WWII war dead, in 1947 the club created Bay Memorial Park by leasing 20 acres of swamp land from Panama City.
In 1952 Marion (Bubba) Nelson donated a building which had been the first Panama City School and later the First Presbyterian Church. When the church outgrew it, he bought, donated and moved the building to 810 Garden Club Drive to become the club's building.
The Old School House
In the 1960s the building on the left was built right around the old school house. The old schoolhouse room became the club's library. The Garden Club has been the site of many Bay County events and celebrations including the Azalea Trail Queen Competition.
In 1999, the club collaborated with the City of Panama City to create the Memorial Wall and Island at Bay Memorial Park, commemorating Bay County’s war dead since 1940.
After Hurricane Michael caused significant damage in 2018, the clubhouse was deemed unsafe. Without property insurance, the club transferred ownership of the building to the City of Panama City, anticipating potential restoration.
The building remained in disrepair for more than five years. In 2024, an evaluation by Panama City Parks determined the structure could not be refurbished due to structural issues, and it was subsequently demolished.
Some items of historical significance were preserved for future generations. The City secured funding through various means, with contributions from contractors providing labor and materials.
The new building is nearing completion, and the club will utilize a dedicated space comparable in size to the former library, which will function as a botanical library and office. In exchange, the club will be responsible for planting native flower gardens and maintaining landscaping around the building for continued use of the space.
The club plans to maintain its efforts, contributing to community green spaces for the benefit of future generations.