Aerial views of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the Panama Canal Zone. Lush green fields, tower and buildings in the Canal zones. Shoreline, a ship anchored at the canal, vehicles move along the border between the Panama Canal Zone and Republic of Panama. Fort Gulick on the Atlantic side of the Canal. Palm trees, buildings, cars move along the border. Cars parked alongside of the road that forms the border between Republic of Panama and Canal Zone.
Construction of the Panama Canal connecting the Caribbean Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. Views of abandoned and failed first attempt by French team led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, with scenes of Panama natives cutting vegetation with machetes. Scene of abandoned canal work area. Scenes of United States work to build the canal beginning in 1903. Steam shovels digging and moving earth. Laborers construct railroad for use in canal building. General Glen Edgerton talks about the construction difficulties from malaria, and the worker prescription of quinine three times daily. Views of British and French workers on the site working and arriving by rail to work. Dynamite explosion removes rumble for railroad construction. View of locks under construction 1000 feet long and 110 feet wide. Excerpt from interview with former Canal Zone Governor and Congressman Maurice Thatcher, who characterizes the project as the greatest liberty that man had ever taken with nature. (Thatcher was honored when the first bridge connecting both sides of the Panama Canal was named after him as "Thatcher Ferry Bridge". In 1979 the name was officially changed to the Bridge of the Americas.) Clip next shows 1970's aerial view of the Panama Canal. Ships moving through the Panama Canal.
Construction of the Panama Canal. A view of the Panama Canal constructed by U.S. Army engineers. The engineers work at the Culebra Cut. A railroad train on tracks. Smoke comes out. A crane lifts up rubble. Two engineers stand and one of them holds a shovel in his hands. The engineers work at Gold Hill. They use a hydraulic excavation cylinder and spray. A view of the Culebra Cut before the water entered. A boat underway in the Culebra Cut. A spillway at Gatun Lake. Water is controlled by the spillway. A sign reads 'Gatun Locks'. A liner in Gatun Locks. People at the dock along the Panama Canal. A view of Panama City, with people and traffic on the streets. Buildings on a street of Panama City. Mountains in the background.
Buildings and local inhabitants of Panama City, Republic of Panama. Arch and ruins of Saint Domingo Church (Arco Chato, Calle 3a Oeste, Panama City) in Panama. A native Panamanian man stands beside a lamppost. Traffic on the street. A columned building in the background.
Various buildings in Panama City, Republic of Panama. A large building in downtown Panama City. Tourists at the entrance of the building. A group of tourists and natives in front of the building. A public building with the Panamanian flag flying from a mast. The Spanish Embassy in Panama City.
Aviator Charles Lindbergh in Panama. Lindbergh takes President Rodolfo Chiari Robles, (President of Panama 1924-1928) for a ride over the Canal Zone. President Rodolfo Chiari strapped into the seat in Lindbergh's plane 'Spirit of Saint Louis'. The plane takes off. The plane in flight over Panama City and Balboa. Aerial views of Panama City, Balboa, buildings and the Panama canal zone. The President disembarks from the plane and talks to some officials.