The Administration Building sits on a low hill above Balboa, a cream-coloured neoclassical pile built in 1914 to house the headquarters of the Canal Zone government. It remained the nerve centre of Canal operations until the handover to Panama in 1999 and is still used by the Panama Canal Authority today.
The reason to visit is the rotunda, where four large murals by American artist William van Ingen depict scenes from Canal construction — the Gaillard Cut excavation, workers battling the jungle, the lock chambers filling for the first time. The scale and realism are remarkable given they were painted in 1915. The staircase leading up to the entrance, flanked by carved granite figures representing industry and commerce, is one of the better pieces of public architecture in Panama City.
The building is open to visitors on weekdays during office hours; access is free but you may need to show ID at the gate.