Near Pinewood in Sumter County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Col. David Dubose Gaillard
Engineer Of The Panama Canal
Photographed by Cindy Bullard, February 20, 2010
1. Col. David Dubose Gaillard Engineer Of The Panama Canal Marker (front)
Born at Fulton Crossroads, Sept. 4, 1859, David DuBose Gaillard spent his boyhood in this section. He was graduated from West Point in 1884, rising to rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers. During the Spanish American War he organized and commanded the 3rd U. S. Volunteer Engineers. He served on the general staff of the army and on major engineering projects, including the Panama Canal.
[Reverse]:
Gaillard Cut of the Panama Canal was named for Col. Gaillard as a tribute to his distinguished work there. He planned and supervised the digging through the backbone of the continent at Culebra, acclaimed as a feat of engineering genius. He succeeded in this where others had failed, but gave his life to the effort, dying from the result of overwork, Dec. 5, 1913.
Erected 1979 by the Sumter County Historical Commission, replacing a marker erected by the same organization in 1953. (Marker Number 43-7.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, Spanish-American • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is September 4, 1879.
Location. 33° 43.653′ N, 80° 30.708′ W. Marker is near Pinewood, South Carolina, in Sumter County. It is at the intersection of
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in South Carolina’s Pee Dee. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, 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, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Mark's Episcopal Church (approx. 1.4 miles away); Richard Richardson (approx. 1.4 miles away); Millford Plantation (approx. 1.4 miles away); Encounter at Halfway Swamp / Site of Original St. Mark's Church (approx. 5.1 miles away); Halfway Swamp: (approx. 5.3 miles away); Richardson Graves (approx. 6.3 miles away); Site of Manchester (approx. 7.8 miles away); John M. Bates Bridge (approx. 7.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pinewood.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Encounter At Halfway Swamp / Site Of Original St. Mark's Church (was approx. 5.1 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . .
1. David Du Bose Gaillard, A Memorial. Internet Archive website entry:
A biography of Colonel Gaillard written in 1916. (Submitted on February 23, 2010.)
2. Online Panama Canal History Museum. Website homepage:
Photos and stories about the history of the Panama Canal (Submitted on February 23, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama.)
Photographed by Cindy Bullard, February 20, 2010
2. Col. David Dubose Gaillard Engineer Of The Panama Canal Marker (reverse)
Photographed by Mike Stroud, January 19, 2010
3. Col. David Dubose Gaillard Engineer Of The Panama Canal Marker
as seen looking north along Camp Mac Boykin (State Road 43-51)
Harris & Ewing, Courtesy of the Library of Congress
4. Col. David Dubose Gaillard
Photographed by Tim Carr, March 20, 1992
5. Galliard Cut of the Panama Canal. Contractors Hill seen on the left,
Photographed by Tim Carr, April 1, 1992
6. Gaillard Cut North Bound View
Photographed by Tim Carr, April 1, 1992
7. Contractors Hill in the Gaillard Cut Of The Panama Canal
Photographed by Tim Carr, April 1, 1992
8. Monument to the Construction Workers of the Panama Canal, located on the side of Contractor Hill
Photographed by Tim Carr, April 1, 1992
9. Southbound view of Gaillard Cut with a container ship transiting the canal.
Photographed by Tim Carr, April 18, 1992
10. North Bound View of the Panama Canal at Gaillard Cut viewed from Contractor Hill
Photographed by Tim Carr, April 18, 1992
11. South Bound View of the Panama Canal at Gaillard Cut viewed from Contractor Hill
Photographed by Tim Carr, April 18, 1992
12. A French dump car, one of many that was used in the construction of the Panama Canal.
On display atop of Contractors Hill.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2010, by David Bullard of Seneca, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 5,416 times since then and 50 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week February 28, 2010. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 21, 2010, by David Bullard of Seneca, South Carolina. 3, 4. submitted on February 22, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on February 23, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
