The Building of the Panama Canal in Historic Photographs

by Ulrich Keller

In 1889 the Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interocéanique declared bankruptcy. The French firm's optimistic and ill-planned attempt to construct a canal across the Isthmus of Panama had resulted in the death of 22,000 workers (most from yellow fever, typhoid fever, and malaria); the complete loss of one and a half billion francs for the company's 800,000 shareholders; and the bitter failure of Chief Engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps — the man responsible for the Suez Canal. On August 15, 1914, the S.S. Ancon took nine hours and forty minutes to traverse the lock-and-lake waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. What occurred in the quarter century between 1889 and 1914 is a larger-than-life true story of adventure, revolution, ordeal, and the building of the Panama Canal — perhaps the greatest engineering marvel of the early twentieth century. In 164 magnificent historic photographs and a well-researched text, noted photohistorian Ulrich Keller tells the compelling story of this hitherto unparalleled technological achievement. Selected from an archive of over 10,000 images amassed by Ernest Hallen (Official Photographer of the Isthmian Canal Commission), these historic prints document the Canal's construction and its way of 450 miles of railroad; housing for 60,000 based on a caste system; the exotic settings; tremendous hardships and health risks; leisure activities; the Canal Zone's internal government, administration and policing; dredging operations, including spectacular movements of earth and water; unheard-of engineering feats and disastrous failures; and finally, victory! Photographers, historians, engineers, and tudents of industry and technology will immediately recognize this volume as an important primary source of industrial archaeology. Photography enthusiasts and lovers of true adventure will delight in the vibrant, you-are-there sensation imparted by the photos and Ulrich Keller's exceptionally informed text and meticulous captions. The Building of the Panama Canal in Historic Photographs takes the reader back to a different era, and one of the proudest episodes in what the author calls "the 'heroic' age of industry."

Genres: History, Photography, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1984

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect photographic companion to The Path Between The Seas by [Author: David McCullough]. The small amount of text is comprehensive and informative about the building of the Panama Canal, from beginning to end. But the star attraction is a set of 164 photos taken by the official Canal photographers over the American portion of the project. The photos give a vivid portrayal of the land, the rigid caste society, the working conditions, the personalities, and of course the amazing construction.

[Andrew Muonio · Rating 1 out of 5]

low resolution images for Kindle version

The low resolution images for the Kindle version of this book makes for a very poor book of photographs, some content mistakes and a few factual errors.

[Kim Bell Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible photos that take you back in time to the early 1900s. Every single photo is a true miracle. Stepping back in time to see the gigantic hurdle of building the Panama Canal is incredible. For more details with words, find the companion book The Path Between the Seas

[Sue Senger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative. I enjoyed seeing the original photographs.

[Macray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Building the Panama Canal

Sabrina and Dale Anderson made a book about the Panama Canal.

For hundreds of years, people thought how to build a canal across Central america until the French people had an idea and tried and it didn't work out and 20,000 workers died because of tropical diseases. After the Americans tried and they were success fully made it,.

The canal connected the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

This book tells a story of how the Panama Canal was built, Describing the projects background.

[Donella Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent photos

Facts explaining photos gave an excellent history of this amazing canal built so well that is still in use today