In Panama “Building the Panama Canal” Exhibition Hall Opens to the Public

The Panama Canal Museum opened its completely renovated “Building the Panama Canal” room to the public, offering a modern and enriched look at the construction of this emblematic engineering feat.  Officials indicated that with a contemporary approach and cutting-edge technology, the new room explores the Canal’s history, challenges, and global impact, inviting visitors to connect the past with Panamanian memory and identity.  This exhibition includes interactive digital resources, previously unpublished pieces, and content in Spanish with versions accessible via QR codes.

Visitors can learn about the technical, human, and environmental challenges that marked the construction of the Canal, as well as the diverse workforce that made this historic feat possible.  The opening of this room concludes a cycle of renovation of the Museum’s permanent galleries, which began in 2020. In five years, the Museum has transformed seven spaces, integrating educational, technological, and participatory experiences:

• Life in the Zone (March 2021)

• The Route to Sovereignty (1903–1964) (November 2021)

• The Route to Sovereignty (1964–1999) (December 2022)

• The Canal in Panamanian Hands (September 2023)

• Panama before the Canal (September 2024)

• Flag Gallery (January 2025)

• Building the Panama Canal (September 2025)

This process has been led by Ana Elizabeth González, executive director and chief curator, whose work has been recognized in international forums, consolidating the Museum as a regional benchmark in cultural innovation.  Its renovation was developed through rigorous historical research, in collaboration with the Center for Historical, Anthropological and Cultural Research (AIP Panama) and researcher Samuel Poyard, with support from the French Embassy.