Panama City, FL – September 26, 2018 – Two of Panama City’s historic neighborhoods have been awarded grants from the Florida Humanities Council, to be featured on the Florida Stories Walking Tour app. Florida Stories supports the creation of cultural, historical and architectural walking tours for communities across the state of Florida. In Panama City, the app will audibly guide users through immersive walking tours of the historic neighborhoods of Downtown Panama City and St. Andrews. The app is free and allows users to learn about the history at their own pace and on their own schedule.

“This app will allow visitors and locals to learn more about the history of our most beloved neighborhoods,” says Jennifer Vigil, Destination Panama City president and CEO. “We are thrilled that the Florida Humanities Council recognized the culture richness of two of our oldest neighborhoods and awarded these grants so that we can continue to keep our history alive.”

The app’s tour of Historic St. Andrews will provide a glimpse of the neighborhood’s waterfront history, its significant places and people who made this area home. The tour features restaurants on the Panama City Oyster Trail, stops along St. Andrews’ scenic bayfront boardwalk – including the Pelican Tree and historic Governor Stone – and historic buildings, including the Bank of St. Andrews constructed in 1907 and Historic St. Andrews Church constructed in 1887. A celebration to kick-off the new walking tour app will be held at the Panama City Publishing Museum, 1314 Beck Avenue, on October 6, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.

The app’s tour of Historic Downtown Panama City will provide insight on how Panama City got its name, historic architecture and historic events. The downtown tour includes McKenzie Park, the focal point for the first development of Panama City in 1887. Martin Theatre, the town’s post popular cinema through the 1960s is also included on the tour as a premier example of art deco architecture. Finally, the tour includes stops on Massalina Bayou located on the town’s eastern boundary. This tour will launch in the Florida Stories app in early 2019.

The Florida Stories Grant is funded in part by the Florida Department State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and was created to increase awareness about Florida’s history and promote tourism in the state’s cities. “These grants allow in-kind efforts in lieu of matching funds; had it not been for the staff and volunteer boards at the Bay County Historical Society, the Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership and Destination Panama City, these tours would not be possible,” says Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki. The Florida Stories app is available for download on iOS and Android devices in the app store.

For high-res photos, visit: https://bit.ly/2xYx16X.