Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
French impressionist painter Paul Gauguin moves to Isla Taboga after working with a French
crew on the first Panama Canal attempt.
1902
US President Theodore Roosevelt convinces the US Congress to take control of the abandoned
French project. At the time, Colombia was in the midst of the Thousand Days War.
1912
Isla de Coiba becomes a penal colony whose brutality becomes infamous. It's closed in 2004
and now operates as a national park renown for its biodiversity.
1914
The Panama Canal is finally completed after a decade of monumental effort, thanks to the work
of 75,000 laborers, many thousands of whom perish during the construction.
1964
The riots of January 9 (Martyrs' Day) escalate tensions between Panama and the US over occu-
pation rights of the Canal Zone. Twenty Panamanian rioters are killed and over 500 are
wounded.
1968
The Panamanian army overthrows president-elect Arnulfo Arias after just 11 days in office. Seiz-
ing the power gap, General Omar Torrijos becomes Panama's leader.
1977
The Torrijos-Carter Treaty is signed, allowing for the complete transfer of the canal and the 14
US army bases from the US to Panama by 1999.
1980
Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán beats Sugar Ray Leonard for the world welterweight champi-
onship.
1983
Following General Torrijos' death in a plane crash in 1981, former CIA operative Manuel Noriega
rises to power and ushers in an era of repression.
1988
