Originally the building was the Grand Hotel, built by French businessman, George Loew, between 1874 and 1875.

It was the most luxurious hotel in Panama City, however its history would be short-lived since it was sold to Count Ferdinand de Lesseps in 1881.

In 1996 the Board of Trustees of the Interoceanic Canal Museum was created.

Restoration work started immediately and the first part of the museum was inaugurated in 1997, while the full construction took six years.

This article about a museum in Panama related topic is a stub.