Californian Connection
As a native Californian, I’ve always felt closely connected to the history of the Panama Canal. I was born down the street from Balboa Park, home to the most picturesque Spanish Colonial and Moorish Revival architecture in California.
Many of the ornate buildings in San Diego’s Balboa Park were built for the Panama-California Exposition, which celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal. The Canal played a significant role for San Diego’s economy, as the San Diego Bay would be the final destination for many of the ships passing through it. Additionally, the Canal drastically reduced the time required for San Diego’s Naval Ships to reach the Atlantic Ocean.
Fun fact: the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California’s Marina District was also built for the Panama-California Exposition.
