Richard Halliburton, American journalist and author (d. 1939)

Richard Halliburton (January 9, 1900 – presumed dead after March 24, 1939) was a celebrated American travel writer, intrepid adventurer, and prolific author whose extraordinary exploits captivated a generation. He remains particularly renowned today for an unparalleled feat: swimming the entire length of the Panama Canal in 1928 and, in doing so, paying the lowest toll ever recorded in its history – a mere 36 cents. His adventurous spirit ultimately led to his mysterious disappearance at sea while undertaking an ambitious voyage across the Pacific Ocean from Hong Kong to San Francisco, California, aboard a Chinese junk named the Sea Dragon, bound for the Golden Gate International Exposition.

Richard Halliburton: A Pioneer of Adventure Travel

Born in Brownsville, Tennessee, Richard Halliburton embodied the spirit of early 20th-century exploration and romanticized travel. His journeys were not merely about visiting places; they were about experiencing them in the most unconventional and daring ways imaginable. Before his most famous canal swim, Halliburton had already established himself as a daring figure, captivating audiences with tales from his extensive travels through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. His ability to blend personal narrative with thrilling escapades made him a pioneering figure in adventure travel writing, inspiring countless readers with his books like "The Royal Road to Romance" (1925) and "New Worlds To Conquer" (1929).

The Iconic Panama Canal Swim: 36 Cents to Cross a Continent

One of Richard Halliburton’s most enduring legacies is his legendary transit of the Panama Canal. In August 1928, he undertook the unprecedented challenge of swimming the approximate 50-mile length of the waterway, which had opened to ship traffic in 1914. This audacious act was not just a personal challenge but also a clever way to experience and document one of the world's greatest engineering marvels. According to Canal Zone regulations, tolls were calculated based on the displacement of a vessel. For a swimmer, this meant measuring the displacement of Halliburton's body in the water. The calculation, based on his slight displacement, amounted to precisely 36 cents, making him the cheapest "vessel" ever to pass through the Canal and securing his place in its unique history. This peculiar payment remains a famous anecdote, illustrating both the Canal's meticulous bureaucracy and Halliburton's ingenuity.

The Ill-Fated Voyage of the Sea Dragon

Halliburton's final, grand adventure was an ambitious attempt to sail a replica Chinese junk, the Sea Dragon (also known as the Free China or Khaireddin during its construction phase), across the vast Pacific Ocean. This voyage, conceived as a publicity stunt for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco, aimed to symbolize the historical maritime links between East and West. The junk, built with traditional Chinese methods and materials in Hong Kong, was skippered by Halliburton himself, along with a small, inexperienced crew. They departed Hong Kong on March 4, 1939, heading eastward into the notoriously unpredictable Pacific. The journey was fraught with challenges, including reported encounters with severe weather. The last confirmed communication from the Sea Dragon was on March 24, 1939, when Halliburton reported battling a typhoon roughly 600 miles west of Midway Island. Despite extensive air and sea searches by the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels over several months, no trace of the Sea Dragon or its crew was ever found. Halliburton was officially presumed dead in 1939, leaving behind a legacy of insatiable curiosity and boundless courage.

Halliburton's Enduring Legacy

Richard Halliburton's life was a testament to the pursuit of adventure and the power of storytelling. Beyond his Panama Canal swim and the mysterious disappearance, he was known for other daring exploits, such as flying an open-cockpit biplane called "Flying Carpet" around the world, re-enacting Hannibal's elephant-led crossing of the Alps, and climbing Mount Fuji in winter. His engaging prose and thrilling narratives ignited the imaginations of millions, proving that the world was still full of wonder and ripe for exploration. His work helped define the genre of adventure travel literature and continues to inspire new generations of explorers and writers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Richard Halliburton

Who was Richard Halliburton?

Richard Halliburton was a celebrated American travel writer, adventurer, and author known for his extraordinary feats and engaging travel narratives, particularly his swim through the Panama Canal and his ill-fated Pacific voyage.

What was Richard Halliburton's most famous accomplishment?

His most famous accomplishment was swimming the entire length of the Panama Canal in 1928 and paying the unprecedentedly low toll of 36 cents for the transit, calculated based on his body's displacement.

What was the Sea Dragon?

The Sea Dragon was a Chinese junk that Richard Halliburton attempted to sail across the Pacific Ocean from Hong Kong to San Francisco in 1939. It was part of a promotional venture for the Golden Gate International Exposition.

What happened to Richard Halliburton?

Richard Halliburton disappeared at sea in March 1939 during his attempt to cross the Pacific aboard the Sea Dragon. His last known communication reported encountering a typhoon, and neither he, his crew, nor the vessel were ever found.

How much did Richard Halliburton pay to cross the Panama Canal?

He paid 36 cents, the lowest toll ever recorded for a transit through the Panama Canal. This was calculated based on the displacement of his body in the water, as per the Canal's toll regulations for vessels.