Wainwright Shipyard
Panama City Port Authority
5321 West Highway 98
Panama City, Florida 32401
Bay County
(850) 767-3220
This site is located in the Northwest region of the state.
DIRECTIONS
Exit I-10 on US-231 (Exit 19) and proceed towards Panama City (south). At US-98 West turn slight right and continue to first left turn after 23rd Street to Panama City Port Authority office (across from Gulf Coast Community College campus).
Responding to the wartime shipping needs of Great Britain, the United States Maritime Commission selected the J. A. Jones Construction Co. to build and operate a yard for construction of Liberty ships in Panama City. One of nineteen American shipyards used for this purpose, the five slipways of the Wainwright Yard saw 108 ships constructed from 1943 to the end of the war. While most of these were of the standard Liberty design, many others received modification to facilitate the shipment of aircraft, army tanks, and other war materiel. The average per ship construction cost of $2,020,000 placed the Panama City yard mid way between per ship costs at the remaining facilities.
Named for General Jonathan Wainwright, the impact of the yard on the local economy was tremendous. With as many as 15,000 employees at any one time, the company provided housing, stores, and restaurant and laundry facilities within the property. Panama City population increased from 20,000 in 1940 to a wartime peak of 60,000 residents.
With the construction of the last ships in late 1945, removal of the slipways and shops then occurred and the site came under operation of the Panama City Port Authority. Prominently displayed in front of the port authority office is a granite memorial which serves to recognize the contributions of the Wainwright Shipyard to the Allied Victory.
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LINK:
Panama City Port Authority
http://www.panamacityportauthority.com/
