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Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
King Charles I of Spain
The idea of creating a water passage dates all the way back to the 1500s. This idea came from King Charles I of Spain when he asked the regional governor to survey a route along the Chagres River. Although, at the time, the idea seemed impossible, it still remained as a potential shortcut from Europe to eastern Asia. -
Count Ferdinand de Lesseps
France was the first country to ultimately attempt the task. Led by Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, the builder of the Suez Canal in Egypt, the construction team started in 1880. But, the French soon faced many challenges, some of which were incessant rains that caused heavy landslides, yellow fever, and malaria were some of the troubles that the French faced. -
The French Stop Building
In 1888, the French stopped building the canal. By that time, Count Ferdinand de Lesseps belatedly realized that a sea-level canal was too difficult and reorganized efforts toward a lock canal. But then, funding was pulled from the project. -
Purchasing of the Panama Canal
On June 28, 1902, the U.S. purchased the canal zone for $40 million. Following the thoughts of the U.S. Isthmian Canal Commission and a push from President Theodore Roosevelt, they purchased the canal zone. In two years, they would begin construction. -
Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty
Finally, on November 18, 1903, the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty was signed. This treaty was signed by the United States and Panama. This treaty signified that the United States could begin construction on the Panama Canal. -
Beginning Construction
Not learning the lessons that the French did, the Americans planned to begin construction on a sea level canal on May 4, 1904. But, the chief engineer, John Wallace, encountered immediate problems. Some of the problems were that much of the French equipment needed repair, while the spread of yellow fever and malaria was scaring off the workers. Under pressure to keep construction moving forward, Wallace resigned after a year. -
A New Cheif Engineer
A railroad specialist by the name of John Stevens took over as the chief engineer in in July 1905. He immediately solved most of the problems that had come up when John Wallace was was chief engineer. Stevens saved the workforce problem by hiring West Indian laborers and, also quickly recognized the difficulties posed by landslides and convinced Roosevelt that a lock canal was the best idea. -
Helping The Panama Canal Construction
Someone who helped the project immensely chief sanitary officer Dr. William Gorgas. In November 1905, the last case of yellow fever was recorded and malaria cases were going down. Bet you’re wondering why this is important? Well, it was Dr. William Gorgas believed that mosquitoes carried the deadly diseases that was wiping out the workers. Also, Dr. William Gorgas was the one who stopped most of theses deadly diseases from spreading. -
Lt. Col. George Washington Goethals
Construction was on track when President Roosevelt visited in November 1906, but the project suffered a setback when John Stevens suddenly retired. When this happened, President Theodore Roosevelt hired Army Corps engineer Lt. Col. George Washington Goethals the new chief engineer. Goethals started production right away. -
Locks In Gatún
Construction of the locks began with the pouring of concrete at Gatún in August 1909. Locks were built in pairs, with each chamber measuring 110 feet wide and 1,000 feet long. The entire enterprise was powered by electricity and run through a control board. -
Culebra Cut
The Panama Canal was soon completed in 1913. Two steam shovels working in opposite directions planned to meet up in the center of Culebra Cut in May. Then later on in the year, President Woodrow Wilson sent a telegraph at the White House to flood the final stretch of dry passageway at Culebra Cut. -
Construction Complete
On August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal was officially opened. When completely done, its total cost was more than $350 million and, out of the 56,000 workers working from 1904-1913, 5,609 were killed. But, the route was then finished, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
