Photo illustration: Two women stand on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean entrance to the Panama Canal in 1916, superimposed on a photo of the same position taken last week. (Library of Congress/Roee Ruttenberg)
Published June 27, 2016 at 9:42 PM Updated June 29, 2016 at 5:19 PM
The long-planned Panama Canal expansion was marked by fireworks, music, and cheers on Sunday as a Chinese cargo ship from COSCO became the first to pass the new, wider Cocoli Locks at the Pacific side of the canal.
Such fanfare was also in the air 102 years ago, when canal first opened on August 15, 1914 after 11 of construction, and decades of planning. To see how Panama Canal has changed over the years, move the center slider left and right.
Miraflores Locks
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The photo on the left shows the Miraflores Locks in the Panama Canal sometime between 1909-1919 (Photo: Library of Congress). The photo on the right shows the same locks today. Coming from the Pacific side of the canal, the Miraflores Locks are just before the newly expanded Cocoli Locks which uses new hydraulic technology and reuses water from several other locks.
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The left photo shows the east chamber of the Miraflores Locks, east chamber (Photo: Library of Congress/Detroit Publishing Co.), also sometime between 1910-1920 as the “Panama of New York” steamship passes through. The photo on the right shows the same position today.
Planning for the current expanded canal began more than a decade ago, after the United States handed sovereignty of the canal to Panama in 1999. Prior to that, the U.S. had built and run the locks for 85 years.
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The photo on the left side shows a nearly completed Miraflores Locks control house in 1913 (Photo: Library of Congress/Byron Co). The photo on the right shows the same building which now houses the Miraflores Visitor Center.
Map Pacific side of the Panama Canal
Balboa, Panama
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The left photo shows two women standing on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean entrance to the canal in 1916 (Photo: Library of Congress). The right photo shows nearly the same position, taken by CCTV America Correspondent Roee Ruttenberg last week.
Watch the first ship pass through the expanded Panama Canal on June 26, 2016
People celebrate the opening of the original canal in 1914
Crowd at Panama Canal opening ceremony with some children holding U.S. flags possibly in 1914. Photo: Library of Congress, John Barrett Collection.
View more historical photos of the Panama Canal
Historical photos of the Panama Canal
Click to view a full screen slideshow
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Fumigating the area around the Panama Canal to prevent disease. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Blowing up Gamboa Dyke. October 10, 1913. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Culebra Cut. First water in the Cut. Looking south from Tower "R" after opening the valves in the pipes under Gamboa Dyke. October 1, 1913. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Culebra Cut at Empire suspension bridge. Bottom of cut will be 57 feet lower where the cars stand.
June, 1911. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
View from Contractor's Hill, showing ladder and dipper dredges working on toe of Cucaracha slide. December 9,1913. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Removing tracks from Culebra Cut before letting in water. Spanish laborers at work. September 4, 1913. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Tripod drills at work in foreground of Culebra Cut. December 1912. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Break in the east bank between stations at Culebra Cut. Close view of overturned steam shovel and loaded flat cars caught in the slide. March 29, 1913. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Floods at Culebra Cut. Empire Looking north during flood of December 3, 1906. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Completion of bottom pioneer cut at Culebra Cut. May 20, 1913. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Gatun Locks excavation site (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt inspecting canal work from railroad coach. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Culebra Cut flooding after heavy rain. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Gallegos living in railroad camp cars. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
The Panama Railroad near Mindi during a flood. December 3, 1906. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Upper center wall and lake, Miraflores Locks. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Miraflores Locks under construction. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Visit of William Howard Taftm 27th president of the United States to the Panama Canal Zone. Circa 1910. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
President Taft, Chief Engineer Goethals, and the Panama Advisory Board of Engineers: Colonel Goethals, James D. Schuyler, Isham Randolph, John R. Freeman, Frederic P. Stearns, Allen Hazen, Henry D. Allen, and Arthur P. Davis (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Pedro Miguel Locks during a flood.
December 4, 1910. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Site of the Pedro Miguel Locks. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Panama Railroad station at Cristobal. Commissary in Background,1910. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Dutch submarine K-XII at Pedro Miguel Locks. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Pedro Miguel Locks and town, aerial view of south end of cut. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
President Harding at Balboa Swimming Pool. (Panama Canal historical photo)
Historical photos of Panama Canal
Visit by President Harden speaking to group at Balboa Swimming Pool. (Panama Canal historical photo)
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