1892 Map of Barataria

About this map

Barataria Bayou and the winding channels of the Mississippi Delta dominate this 1891 survey, illustrating a landscape defined by water and marsh before modern coastal erosion and engineering significantly altered these wetlands. At the northern edge, the settlement of Barataria sits along the waterway, while the N. O. F. J. & G. I. R. R. skirts the northeastern corner near the Mississippi River. The map meticulously details the complex hydrologic network of the era, from the wide expanse of Lake Ouacha or Salvador to the southern reaches of Little Lake. Local nomenclature is preserved through features like John the Fool Island, Turtle Bay, and the branching Bayou des Amoureux. This survey captures the intricate natural border between Jefferson, Lafourche, and Plaquemines parishes, documenting the primary transit routes through the Rigolettes and Bayou Perot during a period of heavy reliance on water-based travel.