Life in the Panama Canal Zone in 1937 was largely shaped by the omnipresent American presence and control. The Zone, a ten-mile-wide strip of land bisecting Panama, was governed by the United States, providing employment and housing primarily for American citizens and a sizable West Indian workforce. While the Zone offered a relatively comfortable existence for Americans, with modern amenities like schools, hospitals, and commissaries, it also enforced a system of racial segregation, with West Indian workers facing lower wages and unequal treatment. Economically, the Zone was entirely dependent on the operation and maintenance of the Panama Canal, a vital artery of global trade. The Canal Zone Police Department maintained order, and life revolved around the Canal’s rhythms. The strategic importance of the Canal also meant a constant military presence, adding another layer to the unique character of this American enclave within a foreign nation.