From the Linda Hall Library of Kansas City, Missouri - a library of science, engineering, and technology - comes this extensive online exhibition about building the Panama Canal. The exhibit is centered on the papers of Aurin Bugbee Nichols, an Office Engineer who worked on the canal project and was instrumental in preserving photographs and other materials related to the project. Drawing on this collection, the Linda Hall Library has compiled this interactive exhibit that illuminates the history behind the canal's construction. Highlights include an extensive timeline that begins with 1502, when Christopher Columbus explored Panama in hopes of finding a route to the Pacific Ocean; an interactive map that highlights major landmarks along the canal; and a number of photographs and letters that detail the experiences of workers. This last portion of the exhibit is poignant; workers faced a number of daily dangers, including landslides, diseases, and accidents involving explosives. Tragically, an estimated 5,600 workers died during the construction of the canal. This well-crafted exhibition allows visitors to explore this complex history in depth.
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