Sunday at Panama Canal Museum · Recorriendo Panamá

On Sunday I went to Casco Viejo and decided to enter to Interoceanic Panama Canal Museum (Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panamá), many do not know it, but that day is free for Panamanians and residents.

I wanted to see what the difference was between Panama Canal Museum and Miraflores Visitor Center, because if there is a big difference, the second explains a little of the construction from the French, the workers, the flora and fauna of the place to the construction of the Expansion of the Panama Canal.

What can you see at Panama Canal Museum?

From pre-Columbian times to the Expansion of the Panama Canal, but with political information that influenced it.
The commercial and conquest routes, since the arrival of the Spanish and how the idea of the Panama Canal began,
The legacy of the French and the United States (restaurants, hotels, bakeries, among others).
Each treaty that was made, how they influenced the Canal and the events that unleashed,
the gold fever and the transcontinental railroad,
how the workers were paid, the treatment for the United States was very different from the treatment of other workers.

Imagine that by the arrival of the Spanish there were about 60 cultures on the Isthmus and it is believed that the first ones arrived between 12,000 to 8,000 years B.C.

Among the things that most caught my attention

You can see the Historic Flag of January 9, 1964 and a video of its restoration.

There are the Torrijos Carter Treaties, coins from the 16th and 17th centuries, weapons such as rifles and very old swords, with which they appear in the movies.

There are also the scissors that were used for the inauguration of the Panama Canal, made by the United States, which by the way were huge.

Another thing that you can see is the original lens of the Grande Island Lighthouse, designed by Alexander Gustave Eiffel.

Although it is hard to believe the passage on the transcontinental train cost the same as today, $ 25.00. Extremely expensive for that time.

Did you know that the Bridge of the Americas was not always called that?

No, it was inaugurated with the name of Thatcher Ferry Bridges.

Advices

Use the audio guide, only if you do not have a lot of time, it is a summary of the information that is written,
Bring water, especially if you are one of those who read everything in museums, because there are for several hours,
Something to shelter, at least when I went, inside it was cold.

Note

Accessibility for people with reduced mobility, such as ramps and wheelchair loan during their visit.
Booking is required, it can be done from the museum website.
Currently taking photos is allowed.

Hours

Thursday to Friday, from1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays, from10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Prices

Nationals and residents

$5.00 adult.
$2.50 students, retirees and children
$2.50 holders of SENADIS certificate.
free: Sunday (from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.), (it is not currently being offered).

Non-residents

$15.00 adults.
$7.50 students and seniors
$5.00 children.

Panama Canal Museum has permanent and temporary exhibitions, some of the latter are included in the rate and others have a separate cost.

Where is Panama Canal Museum?

Casco Antiguo of Panama, in front of the Plaza de la Independencia (Plaza de la Catedral), between 5th and 6th streets.

How to get to Panama Canal Museum?

If you go by car, the difficult thing will be to find parking, I suggest going in the morning and entering Casco Antiguo through the Seafood Market, in the deviation that is before taking the Cinta Costera 3.

You can park in one of the Plazas or in the parking lot next to the National Theater.

By bus, you can take a bus that goes to 12th street or that leaves you on May 5 (the vast majority), walk through the entire central and continue along the same street, you will arrive at the Casco Antigo.

More information: Panama Canal Museum

Updated: 2021.

Recorriendo Panamá

Know the beauty of this country.

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