Panama Canal
Colombia, France, and later the United States controlled the territory surrounding the canal during construction. The US continued to control the canal and surrounding Panama Canal Zone until the 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties provided for handover to Panama. After a period of joint American–Panamanian control, in 1999, the canal was taken over by the Panamanian government. It is now managed and operated by the government-owned Panama Canal Authority.
William B. Van Ingen
The Panama Canal murals were executed on nearly of canvas and depict the excavation of the canal. They are mounted in the Panama Canal Administration Building in Balboa, Panama. Van Ingen agreed to produce the murals at $25 per square foot. The paintings are apparently the largest group of murals by an American artist on display outside the United States .