Country Studies US
Country Studies: Panama the 1903 Treaty and Qualified Independence
A canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans had been the dream of several countires for years. Read about how the United States supported Panama's breakaway from Colombia in order to gain access to the isthmus of Panama, the final...
Other
Panama Canal Authority: El Canal De Panama: Canal History
This site presents a history of the construction of the Panama Canal. Content includes information on the Panama Canal Treaty, the canal's construction, involved government leaders, and the transition of the canal from U.S. hands to...
Digital History
Digital History: How the Us Obtained the Panama Canal [Pdf]
The story behind building a canal through the isthmus of Panama is one of incompetence and corruption on the part of the French, who first attempted the feat. Many of the actions of the United States in acquiring the land through which...
A&E Television
History.com: Why the Construction of the Panama Canal Was So Difficult and Deadly
A staggering 25,000 workers lost their lives. And artificial limb makers clamored for contracts with the canal builders. In a quest to fulfill a centuries-old dream to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the builders of the Panama...
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: United States Canal Zone Isthmus of Panama, 1912
A map from 1912 of the United States Canal Zone in Panama. The map shows the location of the canal, the deepened approaches to the canal, and the locks. The map also shows mountain ranges, railroads, projected railroads, post offices,...
CZBrats
Fulfilling Her Destiny, Panama City Becomes Municipal Giant
This page is a excerpt of an old (1969) newspaper article about the early history of Panama - when Spanish explorers first crossed the Isthmus and decided to call it by the name of a fishing village.
CZBrats
Vasco Nunez De Balboa
This page tells of the early history of Panama. "Vasco Nunez de Balboa first settled in Hispanola (present day Dominican Republic and Haiti). To escape his creditors there, Balboa stowed away on a voyage to Panama in 1510. There were, at...
Yale University
Yale University: Hay Bunau Varilla Treaty
Open this page to read the full text of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, which gave the U.S. rights to build the Panama Canal.
CZBrats
Goldrush Days
This page is an article entitled "Gold Rush Days On The Isthmus", by Willie K. Friar, from "The Panama Canal Review" (Fall 1971). Read about this significant event in Panamanian history, which falls into the "Independence" years...
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: Isthmus With Completed Panama Canal, 1914
A map from 1914 of the completed canal across the Isthmus of Panama. The map shows the Caribbean Sea entrance at Colon, the route of the canal through Gutan Lake and lock system, the Pacific entrance at the city of Panama, the Canal Zone...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Panama, 1906
A map from 1906 of the Isthmus of Panama showing the railroad from Colon to the city of Panama, the projected route of the canal, the provinces of Panama at the time (Chiriqui, Veraguas, Azuero, and Panama), and the borders with Costa...
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: Routes to the Panama Isthmus, 1913
A map from 1913 of the eastern United States, the Caribbean, and the Panama Isthmus showing the directness of the steamship routes from New York and New Orleans to Colon. Since the Panama Canal did not open to commercial traffic until...
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: The Isthmus With Completed Canal, 1913
A map from 1913 detailing the Panama Canal Zone and completed canal, with an inset map of the entire country of Panama "The dotted lines show the boundary of the territory known as the Canal Zone, a strip ten miles wide, from deep water...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: The Isthmus of Tehuantepec, 1852
A map from 1852 of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico, showing the proposed railroad route connecting the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific. This was an alternative proposal to the construction of the Panama or Nicaragua canals, and was...
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: Route of the Panama Isthmian Canal, 1904
A map from 1904 of the Panama Canal showing terrain relief of the isthmus, noting the 'Canal always follows the line of the Railroad’ from Colon to the city of Panama. "For generations the Panama Canal had been the dream of man and for...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Isthmus of Nicaragua, 1901
A map from 1901 of the Isthmus of Nicaragua, showing the proposed route of the Atlantic-Pacific canal from San Juan del Norte (Greytown) on the Caribbean coast to Lake Nicaragua, then to Brito near San Juan del Sur on the Pacific coast....
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Panama Canal, 1920
A map from 1920 of the Panama Canal showing the Canal Zone boundaries, the channel route from Colon to the city of Panama, railroad route, lakes, reservoirs, locks, and towns along the canal. A chart at the top of the map shows the...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: The Panama Canal, 1920
A map from 1920 of the Panama Canal showing the channel route from Colon to the city of Panama with the miles given along the route from Colon, railroad route, lakes, reservoirs, the Gatun dam, locks, and towns along the canal. The map...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Panama Canal Zone, 1920
A relief map from 1920 of the Panama Canal Zone showing terrain features, lakes, feeding rivers, the channel route, dams, locks, railroad, and entrance cities. The Canal Zone is shaded darker, and an inset map shows the entire isthmus...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Expedition Panama: Bridge That Changed the World
Investigate the Coriolis effect on the directional flow of currents by measuring linear speeds at different places on the globe. Create a timeline demonstrating geologic time.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Mesoamerica
Civilization in Mesoamerica flourished and crashed repeatedly, giving rise to a distinctive worldview and some remaining mysteries. This article discusses the rise of early civilizations in this region.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: United States Canal Zone, 1909
United States Canal Zone and the isthmus of Panama.
A&E Television
History.com: Vasco Nunez De Balboa
A short biography of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a Spanish explorer, who is credited with sighting the Pacific Ocean while crossing the isthmus of Panama.
Mariners' Museum and Park
The Mariner's Museum: Vasco Nunez De Balboa
A biography of the life of explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa.