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Bidlack Treaty
The U.S. signed a treaty with Colombia. If Panama tried to break free from Colombia, then the U.S. would help stop the revolution. In return, the U.S. had a right to build a passageway across the Isthmus of Panama. -
Gold Rush Begins
Gold is discovered and the Gold Rush begins. A canal becomes more necessary because ships are faster than covered wagons. -
Panama Railroad Completion
After 5 years, a railroad over Panama was completed, and by 1856, it was carrying 40,000 passengers a year. -
Transcontinental Railroad Completion
The U.S. finishes the Transcontinental Railroad after six years. It makes travel across the U.S. easier, but it's still easier to ship heavy things by boat. -
Suez Canal Completion
The Suez Canal was officially opened and Ferdinand de Lesseps became a national hero. -
Period: to
The French Attempt
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A Meeting for a Central American Canal
A group of scientists, engineers, politicians, and explorers meet in France to discuss about a canal in Central America. They decide on a lock canal in Nicaragua, but de Lesseps disagrees and says it should be built in Panama and should be built at sea level. (Note: The meeting was sometime in January; it may not have been held on this specific date.) -
de Lesseps Gets Permission
Ferdinand de Lesseps got permission from the Colombian government to build a sea-level canal in Panama. -
The French Start Working
The first shovelful of earth was dug at the very beginning of the decade. -
The French Start Culebra Cut
Soon after arriving in Panama, de Lesseps starts digging Culebra Cut. -
Finlay Discovers Cause of Yellow Fever
Carlos J. Finlay discovered that mosquitoes spread yellow fever. He publishes this description in 1886, but no one listens to him. -
de Lesseps Goes Bankrupt
de Lesseps runs out of money. His company will go bankrupt within the next year, and the French attempt on the canal will end in disaster. He, among other company officials and his son Charles, will be convicted on charges of fraud and graft. He will die on December 7, 1894. -
Malaria Discovery
Ronald Ross discovers that malaria is spread by a specific type of mosquito. -
Inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt got inaugurated after the death of former president William McKinley. He helped start the canal's construction. -
Period: to
The U.S. Attempt
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The U.S. Will Build in Panama
The French convinced Roosevelt, originally favoring a Nicaragua canal, to build in Panama. -
Panama Revolution
The revolution that gave Panama its independence only lasted a few hours, and the U.S. recognized the republic of Panama on November 6. Colombia didn't recognize the new nation until 1921. -
The U.S. Starts Culebra Cut
The U.S. picks up right where the French left off, digging and digging Culebra Cut. -
John Findley Wallace Is Hired
President Theodore Roosevelt hired John Findley Wallace as Chief Engineer. He would resign about a year later. -
Gorgas Arrives
William Crawford Gorgas is hired and arrives in Panama, hoping to eradicate yellow fever and malaria in the area. -
Wallace Resigns
John Findley Wallace resigns as Chief Engineer, frustrated by the lack of progression. He will be replaced by John Frank Stevens. -
Stevens Arrives
Newly hired Chief Engineer John Frank Stevens arrives at Panama, immediately halting the digging. -
Stevens Stops Digging
Stevens had just arrived in Panama a couple of weeks ago, and he immediately stops the digging so that he can figure out a plan. -
Yellow Fever Eradicated
The last cases of yellow fever was reported, thanks to William Crawford Gorgas's planning. -
Readying Construction of Gatún Dam
Workers start to clear out the site where Gatún Dam will be built. -
Roosevelt Visits Panama
Theodore Roosevelt pays a visit to Panama to see how things are going on the canal. He is caught on photo working a steam shovel. The photo spreads across the U.S., making the construction more widely known. -
Stevens Resigns
Roosevelt receives a resignation letter from Stevens, feeling betrayed that he left. Stevens was Chief Engineer for only 20 months. -
Goethals is Hired
To replace Stevens, Theodore Roosevelt hires Colonel George Washington Goethals as the final Chief Engineer of the canal. -
Dynamite Accidentally Explodes
22 pounds of dynamite are accidentally detonated, killing 23 people and injuring 10 others. -
Taft Is Inaugurated
Theodore Roosevelt's time in office comes to a close as William Taft is inaugurated as the 27th president of the United States. -
Construction on the Gatún Locks Starts
Construction starts on the Gatún locks (the locks closest to the Atlantic Ocean). -
Construction on the Pedro Miguel Locks Starts
Assembly of the Pedro Miguel locks begins. It will be finished by fall 1911. (Note: Assembly started sometime in September, not on this specific date.) -
Construction Starts on Miraflores Locks
The Miraflores locks (the locks closest to the Pacific Ocean) are the last locks to be completed. Construction on these locks will finish in 9 months. (Note: Construction started in September, not on this specific date.) -
Culebra Cut Finished
Culebra Cut, the 9-mile waterway, is finished after nine years. -
Gatún Dam Completion
Gatún Dam is complete. The dammed-up Chagres River forms Gatún Lake, then the largest artificial lake in the world. -
Gatún Locks First Tested
The Gatun, a tugboat working at the Atlantic entrance, becomes the first ship to pass through the Gatún locks. The test works perfectly. -
Gatún Lake Joins to Culebra Cut
President Woodrow Wilson pressed a specially built button, and there was an explosion thousands of miles away in Panama. Gatún Lake was joined to Culebra Cut, forming an unbroken waterway from the Atlantic to the Pacific. -
First Ship Passes Through
The Alexander La Valley, a construction ship, became the first ship to pass through, although the canal had not been opened yet. By spring, small boats will be going through the canal. -
Beginning of World War I
Germany declares war on France, Belgium, and Russia, and World War I begins, overshadowing the canal's completion. -
First Ship Officially Passes Through
The SS Ancon becomes the first ship to officially pass through the entire Panama Canal. -
Richard Halliburton Swims the Canal
Author/adventurer Richard Halliburton gets permission to swim the Panama Canal. He pays a record low toll: 36 cents. -
The First Ship Is Too Big
The RMS Queen Mary becomes the first ship unable to fit into the locks due to its size. -
Canal Used During Korean War
The canal is used extensively for transporting troops and supplies during the Korean War. -
Lighting Installed
Fluorescent channel lighting is installed this year, allowing ships to go through 24 hours a day. -
Canal Used for Vietnam War
Supplies and troops are transported through the canal for the Vietnam War during the first half of the 1970s. -
Torrijos-Carter Treaties
The U.S. and Panama sign a treaty stating that the canal zone officially belonged to Panama starting noon on December 31, 1999. -
Panama Gains Ownership of Canal Zone
At noon, the U.S. officially handed over sovereignty of the canal to Panama. -
Expansion Project Begins
Panama agrees on an expansion project that will start in 2007. -
Period: to
Expansion Project
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Last Expected Finishing Date for Expansion
The expansion project is expected to be finished in April 2016, if not before.
