Build a Timeline Website

This website could possibly end up as a single page website (for now anyway). I need a website that has a scrolling timeline as it's main feature. By scrolling, I mean horizontal scrolling. This scroll effect MUST be able to "zoom in and out" of the timeline and see the various text or pictures that are placed on the timeline by me. I was having some difficulty describing this effect but then I realized an example that would explain my need quite easily. If you were using Google Maps for example. Let's say you wanted to travel from Los Angeles to New York City (across the country). After you have asked Google maps to "Get Directions", you see the entire United States with a colored line showing the path that you should travel. At first, there is not much detail on the map, but as you zoom in, you see more and more detail such as names of cities, highways, locations, etc. The more you zoom in, the more detail you see. Of course, once you've zoomed in, you can navigate forward and back by scrolling (horizontal scrolling). That is exactly the effect that I need for this website. You see it all the time when a website needs to display something but has WAY TOO MANY to fit on the average computer screen. Therefore, they give you the option to scroll left and right through the many items. Videos or books, for example. THAT is what I need except I need to have the ability to "zoom in and out" of the timeline to reveal more (or less) detail. Just like the Google map travel directions across the United States. I will eventually be placing MANY items (Text, pop-up text, pictures, links, etc) on the timeline. I do not expect you to place them. However, I need the placeholders on the timeline waiting to be filled with information. For this FIRST version, I would want a timeline that has 500 placeholders that I can enter text or pictures onto the timeline eventually fill up all 500 placeholders. I also need the ability to change the position of the placeholders left and right as needed for each particular placeholder. I know this could be done in Flash but I choose not to use Flash Actionscript 3 programming because of certain issues that Apple has with Flash. Therefore, I am open to which programming language SHOULD be used to accomplish my needs. There is probably already software developed that does something similar. I am open to use existing software effects as long as I need to pay any fee for the rights. I want to OWN the rights to the final effect, so I can not use any software that I don't have permission to use. My hope is that I find a programmer who understands my needs and goals for this website and has the knowledge to build such a website. Because, I am certain that I will need the services of that individual as I develop the website to contain more and more items on the timeline. I would like to develop a strong relationship with the person (persons) who receive the final award. Good luck !