Timeline of Major Events that Impacted the Panama Canal
1880: The French started to build the canal
1889: The French abandon the canal
1903: Panama gains its independence (Hay-Bunau-Villa treaty)
1904: Panama Commissioner is sent to explore the area
President Roosevelt visits the Canal Zone
1907: US Army Colonel George Washington Goethals is appointed as chief engineer
1909: Work on canal locks begins
1913: Work on canal locks is completed
1914: Canal officially opens in August
2007: Expansion project starts
2016: Predicted finish date
1889: The French abandon the canal
1903: Panama gains its independence (Hay-Bunau-Villa treaty)
1904: Panama Commissioner is sent to explore the area
President Roosevelt visits the Canal Zone
1907: US Army Colonel George Washington Goethals is appointed as chief engineer
1909: Work on canal locks begins
1913: Work on canal locks is completed
1914: Canal officially opens in August
2007: Expansion project starts
2016: Predicted finish date