WHO

Since the arrival of the French on the Isthmus of Panama in 1879, Ancon Hill played a major role in plans for the construction of the Panama Canal. The hill, which overlooks the city of Panama from a height of 636 feet, takes its name from the Spanish word Ancon, which means 'anchorage.'

In addition to carved-out ledges on a side of Ancon Hill having been the site of Quarry Heights, the senior U.S. military headquarters in Panama and Latin America for most of the 20th Century, other activities/sites/ agencies located there at one time or another have included the following:

- Ancon Rock Quarry (February 1909 - October 1914)

- Ancon Hospital (French)

- Ancon Cemetery

- Gorgas Hospital

- Former U.S. District Court

- Tivoli Hotel

- Herricks Heights housing area

- Cable Heights

- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

- Middle America Research Unit

- Mi Pueblito

The Panamanian government erected an enormous flagstaff and support base on top of Ancon Hill in July-August 1979 for flying (day and night) a huge Panamanian flag (about the size of a basketball court) beginning October 1, 1979, as symbolic and visible display of having recovered its sovereignty over the Canal Zone. The ceremony of the flag raising on October 1, 1979, was attended by then U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale and other U.S. and Panamanian dignitaries.

As a memorial to Amelia Denis de Icaza, Panamanian poet (1830-1911), a monument was constructed on top of Ancon Hill in 2003. Her 1900 poem "Al Cerro Ancon" ("To Ancon Hill"), which venerated Ancon Hill, became a rallying symbol which influenced many Panamanians in a long struggle to recuperate it as well as the rest of the Canal Zone (after October 1979 known as the Canal Area) to Panamanian sovereignty. [Courtesy of ARI, from its website]

Site developed, owned and maintained by

William H. Ormsbee, Jr. 2005