Current Watch Site

Established in 1850 by the New York-based Panama Railroad Company, the city of Colón is an important center for global trade and commerce in Latin America. Both Colón and the Panama Railroad were instrumental in the construction of the interoceanic canal, completed in 1914. By then, Colón had become a melting pot of West Indian, European, North American, and Asian cultures, drawn to Panama in search of economic opportunities. Colón’s gridiron plan, with its long, narrow blocks open to the trade winds, along with its parkways and distinctive colonnaded street facades, has proven to be a remarkably successful model of urban form, sensitive both to the challenging climatic conditions of the humid tropics and the possibilities of adaptive change. The historic core features a unique blend of architectural styles, including Gothic Revival, Neoclassical, Art Deco and early Internationalist Modern, reflecting both the historical stages of the city’s development and its cultural diversity.

Today, the Historic Center of Colón is grappling with a number of challenges, including neglect, inadequate funding, and a lack of awareness about the city’s heritage. Commercial and port-related activities surrounding the Historic Center further threaten this site as well as nearby Mount Hope Cemetery, another 2010 Watch site.