Impact Today

"The Panama Canal was indeed one of the greatest engineering projects of all time."
~ Henry Petroski (Professor of Civil Engineering at Duke University)

All these discoveries and innovations led to the successful opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. Although there were many other discoveries during the construction of the canal, none were as important as the innovation of the lock system, and the discoveries in disease transmission and prevention. These discoveries enabled the Panama Canal to function and save many workers’ lives, speeding up construction. The Panama Canal was, and still is, crucial to the American economy. Ten percent of American shipping goes through the Panama Canal, and allows America to efficiently trade with the rest of the world. This opened up many trade opportunities that helped the United States become a world superpower.

First Ship Crossing the Panama Canal (loc.gov)

"The most important reason—the only reason—to ratify the treaties is that they are in the highest national interest of the United States and will strengthen our position in the world. Our security interests will be stronger. Our trade opportunities will be improved. We will demonstrate that as a large and powerful country, we are able to deal fairly and honorably with a proud but smaller sovereign nation. We will honor our commitment to those engaged in world commerce that the Panama Canal will be open and available for use by their ships—at a reasonable and competitive cost—both now and in the future."
~ President Jimmy Carter

"The building of the canal was one of the greatest engineering feats of history. Although massive in concept and construction, it's relatively simple in design and has been reliable and efficient in operation. We Americans are justly and deeply proud of this great achievement."
~ President Jimmy Carter

Along with the major benefits the United States gained from the Panama Canal, other countries also benefited economically from the canal. Countries in Western America gained increased access to trade and transportation to the rest of the world. Also, on December 31, 1999, the Panama Canal was officially given to Panama, giving them an increased income.

The discoveries in medicine contributed to better disease prevention worldwide. Although there was not a cure for malaria for another twenty years, these new methods of preventing disease saved countless lives. Similar methods for preventing certain types of disease are still used today to prevent major outbreaks of these diseases, worldwide.