{"id":14267,"date":"2026-06-28T17:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T22:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=14267"},"modified":"2026-06-27T21:50:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T02:50:02","slug":"panama-canal-museum-celebrates-anniversary-with-prehistoric-display","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/events-culture\/panama-canal-museum-celebrates-anniversary-with-prehistoric-display\/","title":{"rendered":"Panama Canal Museum Celebrates Anniversary With Prehistoric Display"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Panama Canal<\/strong> Museum opened its doors this week to mark a decade since the waterway&#8217;s historic expansion. Visitors of all ages explored interactive exhibits showcasing the engineering marvel that transformed global trade. The celebration highlights both human stories and prehistoric discoveries from the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3941.220881760864!2d-79.5372052243092!3d8.951783490191444!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8facaf34d0d169bd%3A0xbc9b46700861836f!2sPanama%20Canal%20Museum!5e0!3m2!1sen!2spa!4v1782614919483!5m2!1sen!2spa\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keyla Rodriguez, a museum guide, explained that one exhibit draws particular attention from children and adults alike. A massive <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Megalodon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Megalodon tooth<\/a> sits on display, unearthed during excavation work for the expansion at the Cocoli area. The tooth offers a tangible connection to Panama&#8217;s ancient past, millions of years before the canal existed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;We are commemorating 10 years of the <strong>Panama Canal<\/strong> expansion and one of the most attractive and curious pieces, for both adults and children, is the megalodon tooth. It was found during the construction of the Panama Canal expansion&#8217; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The museum&#8217;s interactive rooms allow visitors to experience history through modern technology. Artificial intelligence features help guests understand the massive scale of the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Panama_Canal_expansion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Panama Canal<\/strong> expansion<\/a>. People can also try using a telegraph to send messages, recreating communication methods from earlier eras.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-14268\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/megalodon-tooth-with-great-white-sharks-teeth-3-2-1200x800-1.webp\" alt=\"Megalodon tooth with great white sharks teeth 3 2\" class=\"wp-image-14268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/megalodon-tooth-with-great-white-sharks-teeth-3-2-1200x800-1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/megalodon-tooth-with-great-white-sharks-teeth-3-2-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/megalodon-tooth-with-great-white-sharks-teeth-3-2-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/megalodon-tooth-with-great-white-sharks-teeth-3-2-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/megalodon-tooth-with-great-white-sharks-teeth-3-2-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/megalodon-tooth-with-great-white-sharks-teeth-3-2-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Megalodon tooth compared to great white shark teeth By Megalodon_tooth_with_great_white_sharks_teeth.jpg: Brocken InagloryBlueRuler_36cm.png: User:Kalanderivative work: Parzi &#8211; This file was derived from: Megalodon tooth with great white sharks teeth-3.jpg:This file was derived from:Megalodon tooth with great white sharks teeth.jpg:BlueRuler 36cm.png:Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=19039152<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Human Stories Behind the Engineering Feat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elba, a visitor who traveled from Puerto Rico, shared her perspective on the canal&#8217;s deeper meaning. She emphasized that the waterway represents more than concrete and steel. People sacrificed their lives to make this project happen, she noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;The <strong>Panama Canal<\/strong> is not only an engineering marvel, but there are also people who gave their lives so that this could happen&#8217; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A pink hard hat catches attention in one display case. The helmet belonged to Ilya Espino de Marotta, who led the expansion project between 2014 and 2016. This artifact represents women&#8217;s crucial roles in one of Panama&#8217;s most significant infrastructure achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Panama_Canal_Museum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Panama Canal<\/strong> Museum<\/a> also preserves a bucket used to transport rocks during the French administration&#8217;s construction efforts between 1887 and 1888. Workers found this historical object during the expansion excavations. Each item tells a different chapter of the canal&#8217;s long and complex story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uss-missouri-bb-11-in-gatun-lake-panama-canal-july-16-1915-18474364866-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"USS Missouri (BB 11) in Gatun Lake, Panama Canal, July 16, 1915 (18474364866)\" class=\"wp-image-12037\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uss-missouri-bb-11-in-gatun-lake-panama-canal-july-16-1915-18474364866-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uss-missouri-bb-11-in-gatun-lake-panama-canal-july-16-1915-18474364866-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uss-missouri-bb-11-in-gatun-lake-panama-canal-july-16-1915-18474364866-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uss-missouri-bb-11-in-gatun-lake-panama-canal-july-16-1915-18474364866-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uss-missouri-bb-11-in-gatun-lake-panama-canal-july-16-1915-18474364866-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uss-missouri-bb-11-in-gatun-lake-panama-canal-july-16-1915-18474364866-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">USS Missouri (BB 11) in Gatun Lake, Panama Canal, July 16, 1915 (18474364866) By National Museum of the U.S. Navy &#8211; Lot 5415-6, Public Domain, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=70782784<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Educational Experience for All Ages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interactive and didactic rooms continue offering educational experiences for families. The museum brings visitors closer to the most important moments in the interoceanic waterway&#8217;s history. Children can touch artifacts while adults read detailed explanations of engineering challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The expansion project doubled the canal&#8217;s capacity when it opened in 2016. New locks allowed larger ships called Neopanamax vessels to transit the waterway. This change reshaped shipping routes and port development across the Americas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Museum officials plan to host additional events throughout the year. The goal is to keep the public engaged with canal history and its ongoing importance to Panama&#8217;s economy. School groups have already booked visits for the coming months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rodriguez encourages all Panamanians and tourists to explore the museum&#8217;s offerings. The megalodon tooth alone makes the trip worthwhile, she said. But the real treasure lies in understanding how a small country built a waterway that moves the world&#8217;s goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Panama Canal Museum opened its doors this week to mark a decade since the waterway&#8217;s historic expansion. Visitors of all ages explored interactive exhibits showcasing the engineering marvel that transformed global trade. The celebration highlights both human stories and prehistoric discoveries from the project. Keyla Rodriguez, a museum guide, explained that one exhibit draws<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14266,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[5045,5047,2637,5044,5046],"class_list":["post-14267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-events-culture","tag-megalodon-tooth","tag-megalodon-tooth-display","tag-panama-canal-expansion","tag-panama-canal-museum","tag-panama-canal-museum-celebrates"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14267"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14269,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14267\/revisions\/14269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}