Panama Canal construction at Bas Obispo, working in rock, circa 1910
- Card type
- Government postal card
About this postcard
A single-track railroad line runs through a deep rock cut at Bas Obispo, with steam shovels and excavation equipment visible in the distance and stacked timbers and debris along the right embankment. Bas Obispo was one of the major cuts on the Panama Canal's Culebra (Gaillard) section, where French and later American engineers moved millions of cubic yards of rock and earth; the railroad was essential for hauling spoil and materials. The card dates from the American construction era, when such views were widely published to promote the canal project.
Postcard Details
No address detected
Postcard record
| Publisher | The Colon Telegram |
|---|---|
| Condition | Good |
| Place depicted | Bas Obispo, Canal Zone |
| Publisher | The Colon Telegram, Colon |
| Notes | White border at bottom carrying the printed caption in red; color lithograph with visible halftone/grained texture; light edge wear. No postmark. Republica de Panama government postal card, undivided address-only back, unused; light toning, foxing spots and edge wear. Front is a white-bordered color halftone. |
Cite this card
Panama Canal construction at Bas Obispo, working in rock, circa 1910, postcard, n.d.. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/panama-canal-construction-at-bas-obispo-working-in-rock-circ. Accessed October 24, 2026.