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Panama Canal Museum marks a decade of waterway expansion with interactive exhibits
🇵🇦 Panama /Culture & Society

Panama Canal Museum marks a decade of waterway expansion with interactive exhibits

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • The Panama Canal Museum is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the waterway's expansion with interactive exhibits.
  • Visitors can learn about the construction, challenges, and human stories behind the expansion, including a megalodon tooth found during excavation.
  • The exhibition also highlights the role of women in the project, featuring a helmet worn by Ilya Espino de Marotta, who led the expansion.

The Panama Canal Museum is celebrating a decade since the expansion of the interoceanic waterway, a monumental project that reshaped global trade. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to delve into the construction, the hurdles overcome, and the personal stories connected to this engineering feat.

Among the highlights is a megalodon tooth discovered during the excavation for the expansion in Cocolí. "We are commemorating 10 years of the Panama Canal expansion, and one of the most attractive and curious pieces, for both adults and children, is the megalodon tooth," explained museum guide Keyla Rodríguez. "This was found during the construction of the Panama Canal expansion."

We are commemorating 10 years of the Panama Canal expansion, and one of the most attractive and curious pieces, for both adults and children, is the megalodon tooth. This was found during the construction of the Panama Canal expansion.

— Keyla RodríguezA museum guide explaining the significance of the megalodon tooth exhibit.

Visitors, like Elba from Puerto Rico, see the canal as more than just an engineering marvel. "The Panama Canal is not only a wonder of engineering, but there are also people who gave their lives for this to happen," she noted. The museum's "Building the Panama Canal" room offers AI experiences and activities like using a telegraph, recreating historical communication methods.

Another significant display is a pink helmet that belonged to Ilya Espino de Marotta, who spearheaded the canal's expansion project from 2014 to 2016. This artifact symbolizes the crucial role of women in one of Panama's most vital infrastructure projects. The museum also showcases historical items like a bucket used during the French construction era (1887-1888), unearthed during the expansion's excavations. Through its educational and interactive displays, the Panama Canal Museum continues to offer a family-friendly experience, connecting visitors with the key moments in the history of the interoceanic waterway.

The Panama Canal is not only a wonder of engineering, but there are also people who gave their lives for this to happen.

— ElbaA visitor from Puerto Rico reflecting on the human cost and significance of the canal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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