By Mike Miller May 5, 2025
Panhandle Pioneer Settlement is a living-history museum in Blountstown, Florida. It recreates rural life in the Florida Panhandle from the 1820s to 1940s.
The site features 18 historical buildings on five acres. These structures form a farm community.
Visitors explore pioneer life through guided tours, events, and hands-on classes. The settlement aims to preserve and share the region’s history.
Willard and Linda Smith founded the settlement in 1989. They wanted to save pioneer traditions. Buildings were moved from Calhoun County to Sam Atkins Park.
The collection includes homes, a school, a church, and a general store. Many artifacts came from local families. The Shiloh Schoolhouse, built around 1886, shows early education.
The F.B. Sexton Cabin, from 1872, highlights simple pioneer living. The settlement reflects the area’s farming and timber roots.
It honors the legacy of early settlers like those guided by Seminole Chief John Blount.
The settlement is at 17869 NW Pioneer Settlement Rd., Blountstown, FL 32424, in Sam Atkins Park. It’s an hour northeast of Panama City.
Store and tour hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm Central Time for a small price. Individual guided tours are also offered. Call (850) 674-2777 for appointments.
Check the website for events like Pioneer Day or Folk Life Days. Wear comfortable shoes for walking. Bring water for warm days. The general store sells handmade gifts and cold drinks.
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