Monuments in Panama
- Panama's flagpanama image by NL shop from Fotolia.com
The weather is tropical and the atmosphere is casual, which is what entices many tourists to Central America's southernmost country. But Panama is known for more than just its sunny, relaxing days and evenings. On your visit to Panama, don't just spend the whole time on the beach. Take a day and check out some historical and cultural aspects of Panama through its monuments. - Built in front of the Panama Canal Administration Building, the Goethals Monument was dedicated to George W. Goethals, chief engineer of the canal. After years of delays and problems, the appointment of Goethals was key in the completion of the canal almost a year ahead of schedule. He also paid close attention to sanitation, and greatly reduced the incidence of disease and death of canal workers.
- Panama also commemorates those who did perish in the building of the canal, with the Plaza de Francia. Large stone tablets and statues tell of the role the French played in the building of the canal. The plaza itself is dedicated to the 22,000 workers who died, mostly from yellow fever and malaria. One of the busts is that of Cuban doctor Carlos Finlay, whose work led to the eradication of diseases in Panama.
- Two monuments commemorate this event; one centers on the famous flagpole with the name of each "martyr" on surrounding columns. The other is a life-size monument in the form of a lamppost with three figures climbing it to raise their flag. The incident occurred outside the former Balboa High School when it was ordered that the flags of both Panama and the United Stated would stand side-by-side. But when students and several adults, who were reluctant to abide by this agreement, tried hoisting the American flag alone in front of their school, a struggle ensued and the Panamanian flag was torn. The ensuing riots lasted three days and resulted in 20 deaths.
- Born in 1475, Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer who was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. He also founded the Panamanian colony of Darien, the oldest still-existing European settlement in the mainland of the Americas. Holding the Spanish flag in its left hand and a sword in its right, the bronze statue of Balboa overlooks Panama Bay and is supported by a sculpture of four nude men represent the white, yellow, black and aboriginal races.
