Located in a historic building within Casco Viejo, the Museo del Canal tells the epic story of the waterway that connected the world: The Panama Canal.
The building holds a good history to tell by itself. It was built in 1874 as the Grand Hôtel by George Loew. Then sold to Count Ferdinand de Lesseps to repurpose it as the offices of the Compaigne Universelle du Canal Interocéanique.
In 1904, it still served as the main offices of the construction of the Panama Canal but under the administration of United States and renamed Isthmian Canal Commission to later, in 1915, be bought by Panamanian President Belisario Porras who used it as the main office for mail and telegraph. Since 1996 it’s working as the museum of the Panama Canal.
You can walk through interactive exhibits that detail the French and American construction eras while highlighting the immense sacrifices made by workers during the early 20th century.
This museum does an excellent job of explaining how the canal transitioned into local hands and how it continues to function as a vital trade route today. It is an essential stop for anyone who wants to grasp the strategic importance of our country as a bridge for the entire world.
