It was constructed in honor of George Washington Goethals the chief engineer of the Panama Canal and United States Army General.

[1][2] It was designed by Alfred P. Shaw of Chicago and was built by the Martinz de Panamá construction company.

[3] The monument is a white Vermont marble construction and was revealed to the public on March 31, 1954.

Its central high part symbolizes the Continental Divide and the piles on the sides represent the Canal locks, from which the waters of Gatun Lake reach the oceans.

[4][5] Al mayor general George W. Goethals Ingeniero Jefe del Canal de Panamá Maestro~constructor≈ ingeniero genial hombre de visión.