The Museum

After passing the reception desk, you'll enter into a quaint atrium. Positioned in the center and on the floor is a large lens/lamp, once part of a lighthouse on Isla Grande, designed by Gustave Eiffel and built-in 1893. To the back and on the right is a staircase leading to the museum's entrance on the second floor. Upon reaching the top, turn left, and off to the right, enter through the sliding door.

It begins with a brief introduction to Panama's pre-Colombian era (you'll find more in-depth coverage of this period at the Panama Viejo Museum). Followed by a peek into how the Isthmus of Panama arose from the seabed, united two continents and divided an ocean, and changed the world's biodiversity forever. (We recommend visiting the Biodiversity Museum on the Amador Causeway for a closer examination of the isthmuses' formation, its initial inhabitants, and the vast array of animal life that once existed and endured.)

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Among the many topics covered in detail, here are just a few:

1. Discovery of the Isthmus by European explorers.
2. Construction of the Panama Canal Railway. It concluded in 1855, long before work commenced on the canal. At the time, it was the world's first transcontinental railway.
3. Panama's independence from Colombia on November 3, 1903, paving the way for the construction of the Panama Canal by the United States.
4. Construction of the Panama Canal. A thorough timeline details the planning, enterprises, treaties, and many individuals involved throughout the process during the French and American efforts. It closely examines the 40,000+ workers from 97 countries that contributed to its completion; their countries of origin, compensation, race, etc.

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Throughout the museum, you'll encounter a vast array of physical artifacts, meticulously maintained and most often housed behind glass cabinets. They include, but are not limited to:

• construction era tools, instruments, and attire
• hand-drawn illustrations
• pre-Colombian art
• newspapers, magazine articles & publications
• historical photographs
• excavation machinery
• miniature ship models, sextants, lanterns, and other maritime devices
• communication, radio & TV hardware
• railroad carts, equipment & tools
• dishes, glasses, bottles & cutlery

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Most exhibits display descriptive text in Spanish and English, and a select few are interactive. In a few instances, the English version is abridged but concise and more than adequate. There are a few instances, most often relating to newspaper and magazine publications and articles, when English descriptions are absent. They are, however, the exception.

In summary, the Panama Canal is one of the world's most important architectural accomplishments, and the museum does a fabulous job detailing every aspect of its development. I can not recommend it enough; it is well worth a visit.