2015 Event U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro meet at the Summit of the Americas in Panama for talks aimed at thawing relations; the historic meeting marks the first interaction in decades between top leaders of the two nations 2014 Event Expansion plans for the Panama Canal are paused so Grupo Unidos por el Canal, the group behind the project, can seek more funding for the $3.2 billion project 2012 Event At a meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Panama City, South Korea announces it's plans to begin 'scientific' whaling of minke whales 2011 Event Archeologists working off the coast of Panama recover six cannons from ships owned by Welsh privateer Henry Morgan 1999 Event Control of Panama Canal reverts to Panama 1996 Event Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in Panama City, Florida on WTBB 97.7 FM 1994 Event Bomb explosion in Alas Airlines at Colon, Panama, 21 killed 1994 Event Ernesto Perez Balladares elected president of Panama 1993 Event Long Beach, California beats Panama for little league world championship 1993 Death Ricardo M Arias Espinosa, president of Panama (1955-56), dies 1991 Event Defense releases docs claiming Noriega is "CIA's man in Panama" 1991 Event Earthquake strikes Costa Rica and Panama, kills 95 1990 Event Panama's leader General Manuel Noriega surrenders to U.S. authorities 1989 Event Panama's dictator, Manual Noriega seeks asylum at Vatican embassy 1989 Event U.S. troops invade Panama and oust Manuel Noriega, but don't catch him 1989 Event President Bush orders nearly 2,000 troops to Panama 1988 Death Arias Arnulfo, 3 time president of Panama, dies at 86 1988 Event U.S. imposes economic sanctions on Panama 1982 Event U.S. formally transfers Canal Zone to Panama 1981 Event J Chodorov/N Panama's "Talent for Murder," premieres in London 1981 Death General Omar Torrijos, leader of Panama, dies in plane crash 1980 Birthday Jordana Brewster, born in Panama, actress, Nikki Graves-As the World Turns 1979 Event Deposed Shah of Iran leaves U.S. for Panama 1979 Event Panama assumes sovereignty over Canal Area (ie Canal Zone) 1979 Event U.S. returns Canal Zone to Panama after 75 years 1978 Event Aristides Royo elected president of Panama 1978 Event Senate votes to turn Panama Canal over to Panama on Dec 31, 1999 1978 Event U.S. Senate accepts Panama Canal treaty 1977 Event Panama 747SP lands after polar flight around Earth in record 54:07 1977 Event President Carter and General Herrera sign Panama Canal treaties 1977 Event U.S. and Panamana sign Panama Canal Zone accord 1976 Birthday Lia Victoria Borrero, Miss Panama Universe 1997 1976 Event Panama 747SP lands after record flight around world (46:26) 1974 Event Gold legal in U.S., Franklin Mint strikes Panama's Gold 100 balboa coin 1972 Event Panama adopts constitution 1972 Birthday Ramiro Mendoza, born in Los Santos, Panama, pitcher, New York Yankees 1971 Event A commuter bus plunges into Panama Canal, killing 38 of 43 aboard 1970 Birthday Sherman Obando, Changuinola Panama, outfielder for the Montreal Expos 1970 Event Panama Boeing 747 1st flight NY-London 1969 Birthday Mariano Rivera, Panama City Panama, pitcher, New York Yankees 1969 Birthday Orlando Miller, Changionola Panama, infielder for the Houston Astros 1968 Event Panama revolts 1964 Birthday Roberto Kelly, born in Panama, outfielder, New York Yankees, for the Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins 1964 Event U.S. and Panama agree to resume diplomatic relations 1964 Birthday Alex Solis, born in Panama City, Panama, jockey, in the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame, over 4,500 career wins 1964 Event Panama ends diplomatic relations with U.S. 1964 Event Panama severs diplomatic relations with U.S. 1964 Event Anti-U.S. rioting broke out in Panama Canal Zone 1960 Birthday Tom Byrum, Onida, South Dakota, Nike golfer, 1994 NIKE Panama City Beach-4th 1959 Event Cuba invades Panama 1956 Birthday Miguel Bose, born in Panama, spanish singer and actor, El Avaro, Queen Margot 1956 Birthday Miguel Bose, Panama, spanish actor, Lo Mejor del Ano 1955 Event Argentina asks Panama for return of ex-president Peron 1955 Event United States and Panama sign canal treaty 1955 Event Jose Ramon Guizado becomes president of Panama 1955 Death Jose Antonio Remon, president of Panama 1952 - 1955, assassinated 1953 Event WJHG TV channel 7 in Panama City, Florida (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting 1951 Birthday Fred W. Leslie, Ancon Panama, PhD/astronaut, STS-73 1950 Birthday Dan Peck, Panama City, Florida, rock vocalist and guitarist, America 1948 Event Panama and Costa Rica recognize Israel 1948 Birthday Ruben Blades, born in Panama, singer and actor, Fatal Beauty, Critical Condition 1946 Event Panama accepts its new constitution 1944 Birthday Billy Cobham, Panama, jazz artist, Same Ole Love 1940 Event Cole Porters musical "Panama hattie," premieres in New York City 1936 Birthday John McCain, born in Panama, Representative-R-Arizona 1983 - 1986, Senator-R-Arizona 1987 - 1936 Death John Larkin IV, actor and writer (Charlie Chan in Panama), dies at 63 1934 Event Franklin D. Roosevelt became 1st President to travel through Panama Canal 1930 Event 1st nonstop airplane flight from New York to Panama 1929 Birthday Omar Torrijos Herrera, president Panama 1926 Event U.S. and Panamanian pact about safeguard of Panama Canal 1923 Birthday Lloyd Labeach, born in Panama City, 100m/200m runner, Olympic-bronze-1948 1917 Birthday Roque Cordero, Panama, composer, Sonata Breve 1915 Event Panama Pacific International Exposition opens 1915 Event U.S. government mints 1st $50 gold pieces, for Panama Pacific Expo 1914 Event U.S. declares Panama Canal Zone neutral 1914 Event Arizonian is 1st vessel to arrive in San Francisco via Panama Canal 1914 Event Panama Canal opens (under cost) 1914 Event 1st seaworthy ship through Panama Canal 1914 Event U.S. and Colombia sign a treaty concerning Panama Canal Zone 1914 Event 1st steamboat passes through Panama Canal 1913 Event Panama Canal opens 1913 Event Gamboa Dam in Panama blown up; Atlantic and Pacific waters mix 1911 Event Congress names San Francisco as Panama Canal opening celebration site 1909 Event Workers start pouring concrete for Panama Canal 1909 Birthday George Headley, cricketer, in Panama All-time great WI batsman 1909 Event Colombia recognizes Panama's independence 1908 Event World's most intense shower (2.47" in 3 minutes) at Portobelo, Panama 1907 Birthday Adrienne Ames, Fort Worth, Texas, actress, Death Kiss, Panama Patrol 1906 Event Roosevelt becomes 1st U.S. President to visit a foreign country (Panama) 1906 Event T. Roosevelt is 1st President to visit other countries (P Rico and Panama) 1904 Birthday Ernesto de la Guardia, Jr., President of Panama, 1956-60 1904 Event Theodore Roosevelt, appoints 7 man committee to study Panama Canal 1904 Event U.S. acquired control of the Panama Canal Zone for $10 million 1903 Event Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty gives U.S. exclusive canal rights in Panama 1903 Event USA recognizea independence of Panama 1903 Event Colombia grants Panama independence 1902 Event U.S. buys concession to build Panama canal from French for $40 million 1901 Birthday Arias Arnulfo, 3 time president of Panama, 1940-41, 49-51, 68 1899 Birthday Evelyn Brent, born in Tampa, Florida, actress, Panama Lady, Last Coomand 1888 Event French Panama Canal company fails 1881 Event De Lesseps' Co begins work on Panama Canal 1880 Event Building of Panama Canal, begins 1879 Event Ferdinand de Lesseps forms French Panama Canal Company 1873 Event U.S. Marines attack Panama 1858 Birthday George Washington Goethals, engineer, built Panama Canal 1848 Event 1st gold seekers arrive in Panama en route to SF 1826 Event General Congress of South American States assembles at Panama 1821 Event Panama declares independence from Spain 1671 Event Pirate Henry Morgen lands at Panama City 1671 Event Pirate Henry Morgan defeats Spanish defenders, captures Panama 1624 Event Spanish silver fleet sails to Panama 1573 Event 1st European, Francis Drake sees the Pacific (from Panama) 1519 Event Panama City founded
