Gauley Bridge in Fayette County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Gauley Bridge

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 9, 2009

1. Gauley Bridge Marker

Inscription. Here New and Gauley rivers unite to form Great Kanawha River. Piers still stand of old bridge destroyed by the Confederate troops in 1861. Here Thomas Dunn English, author of the ballad, "Ben Bolt," wrote "Gauley River".

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Bridges & Viaducts • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. 38° 9.731′ N, 81° 11.673′ W. Marker is in Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, in Fayette County. It is on U.S. 60 0.1 miles east of West Virginia Route 16, on the right when traveling east. This historical marker is located along the north side of the New River, just east of where the Gauley River flows into the New River to form the Great Kanawha River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gauley Bridge WV 25085, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the New River Gorge

and in Greater Charleston Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Less We Forget (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Gauley Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Gauley Bridge War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Camp Reynolds

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(approx. 1.4 miles away); Christopher Q. Tompkins / Gauley Mount (approx. 2.1 miles away); Hawk's Nest Tunnel Disaster (approx. 4½ miles away); Hawk’s Nest (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gauley Bridge.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Battles For The Bridges (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . e-WV | Gauley Bridge. (Submitted on September 8, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.)

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 9, 2009

2. Gauley Bridge Marker

View of the historical marker in the left foreground and a view looking across the New River at the old bridge piers from the bridge destroyed by the Confederates.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 9, 2009

3. Gauley Bridge Marker

View of the historical marker in the foreground with a view to the right of the bridge over the Gauley River and a view of where the New and Gauley Rivers unite to form the Great Kanawha River.

Looking downstream at the confluence of the New, Gauley and Kanawha Rivers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by PaulwC3, August 23, 2014

4. Looking downstream at the confluence of the New, Gauley and Kanawha Rivers

Credits. This page was last revised on March 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,788 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 14, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 4. submitted on September 8, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.