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Construction of Panama Canal
Frenchman Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had directed the engineering of the Suez Canal, began a $70 million project to build a canal through Panama. -
Independence
Panama gains independence from Colombia, after an uprising triggered by Colombia's rejection of a United States plan to build a similar canal. -
Chief of Engineering
President Theodore Roosevelt travels to Panama and appoints John Stevens as chief engineer of the canal project. -
Panama Canal is open
The Panama Canal is opened under US sovereignty, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. -
Hong Kong passing through canal
Hong Kong port operations at Balboa and Cristobal, cause concern about Chinese control of the canal. -
US Control
President Carter signs Treaty and takes control of Panama Canal. The Canal was to be handed back in 1999 to Panama.
