Engineering Milestones: Culebra Cut, Gatun Dam, and the Lock System (1904–1914)

1. U.S. begins Panama Canal construction

   May 4, 1904Labels: Isthmian Canal, Panama Canal

   • PBS
   • Britannica
   • Panama Canal

2. John F. Stevens becomes chief engineer

   Jul 1, 1905Labels: John F, railroad infrastructure

   • Britannica
   • Muskie Archive

3. Roosevelt inspects canal works in Panama

   Nov 14, 1906Labels: Theodore Roosevelt, Canal Zone

   • State Dept
   • PBS
   • White House Hist

4. Gatun Dam construction begins on Chagres River

   Jan 1, 1907Labels: Gatun Dam, Chagres River

   • Gatun Dam
   • E EG Paper

5. Goethals takes charge of canal construction

   Feb 1, 1907Labels: George W, Isthmian Canal

   • Britannica
   • PBS

6. Major Cucaracha slide disrupts Culebra Cut

   Oct 4, 1907Labels: Cucaracha slide, Culebra Cut

   • Culebra Cut
   • PBS

7. Lock plan shifts Sosa Hill site to Miraflores

   Nov 1, 1907Labels: Miraflores Locks, Sosa Hill

   • Panama Canal
   • Canal History

8. First concrete poured for Gatun Locks

   Aug 24, 1909Labels: Gatun Locks, concrete work

   • Locks
   • Canal History

9. Pedro Miguel Locks completed on Pacific side

   Jan 1, 1911Labels: Pedro Miguel, Pacific side

   • Canal History
   • Locks

10. Miraflores Locks completed, finishing Pacific lock flights

    May 1, 1913Labels: Miraflores Locks, Pacific lock

    • Locks
    • Canal History

11. Culebra Cut excavation breaks through at grade

    May 20, 1913Labels: Culebra Cut, pioneer cut

    • PBS
    • UCR Archive
    • Culebra Cut

12. Gatun spillway gates close, forming Gatun Lake

    Jun 27, 1913Labels: Gatun spillway, Gatun Lake

    • PBS
    • Gatun Lake
    • E EG Paper

13. First trial lockage at Gatun Locks

    Sep 26, 1913Labels: Gatun Locks, seagoing tug

    • Panama Canal
    • Locks

14. Gamboa dike is blasted to flood the Cut

    Oct 10, 1913Labels: Gamboa dike, Culebra Cut

    • Panama Canal
    • Panama Canal encycl

15. Continuous waterway completed across the isthmus

    Dec 10, 1913Labels: continuous waterway, Panama Canal

    • PBS
    • Panama Canal

16. SS Ancon makes first official opening transit

    Aug 15, 1914Labels: SS Ancon, Panama Canal

    • USACE
    • Panama Museum
    • SS Ancon