Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Searching for a city of gold, Vasco Nuñez de Balboa leads a grueling overland expedition and is
the first European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean.
1519
Pedrarias founds the city of Panamá, which becomes a major transit point for gold plundered
from Peru, packed overland to the Pacific coast and transferred by galleon to Spain.
1671
Henry Morgan overpowers Fuerte San Lorenzo, sails up the Chagres and sacks the city of
Panamá. After a crushing defeat, a new walled city is built in present-day Casco Viejo.
1698
A Scottish trading colony established in the Darién fails and plunges Scotland into economic
depression. The financial losses heavily influence the union of Scotland with England in 1707.
1739
Following numerous pirate attacks, Spain finally abandons the short but perilous trans-isthmian
trade route in favor of sailing all the way around Cape Horn in South America.
1821
Liberator Simón Bolívar leads the northern swath of South America to independence from
Spain, and Panama joins the newly formed union of Gran Colombia.
1855
An estimated 12,000 laborers die building the Panama Railroad, particularly from malaria and
yellow fever. Despite being only 76km long, the Panama Railroad requires 304 bridges and cul-
verts.
1856
The Watermelon War of 1856 becomes the first US intervention. Large-scale race riots result
from white US soldiers mistreating locals. Marines eventually put down the conflict.
1878
The French are granted the right to build a canal though Panama. After malaria and yellow fever
claim over 22,000 lives, the French declare bankruptcy and abandon the project altogether.
1887
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