While construction of the canal officially began in 1881 by the French, it was not until 1904, under the direction of American engineers, that the construction truly launched off. Many people were involved in building the canal, and at its peak, there were around 45,000 people working on the canal. The construction lasted for ten years, which is very quick considering the fact that the canal extends a length of 48 miles and was built during a time of limited technological capabilities. In addition to the innovative engineering required for this project, the workers needed to brave difficult conditions like poisonous snakes and treacherous mudslides. Fortunately, their work paid off.

The Panama Canal turned out to cut travel time and expenses significantly. In fact, it is estimated that the construction of the Panama Canal shaved five months off the travel time required for a ship to go from New York to northern California. It drastically reduced the distance such ships needed to travel. And today, the Panama Canal remains crucial for international trade, with an estimated 12,000 ships crossing through the canal every year.