1949 Map of Bay Tambour

About this map

Bayou Cassetete and Bayou L'ours thread through an intricate network of marshes and open water along the boundary of Jefferson Parish and Lafourche Parish. This 1949 edition, based on 1935 field work and earlier aerial photography, documents the coastal landscape before significant modern erosion and industrial alteration. The map reveals the critical importance of waterways like the Southwestern Louisiana Canal for navigation and commerce in this wetland environment. Distinctive local landmarks including Andre Island and Martigan Pt serve as anchors for the complex shoreline of Bay Tambour and Caminada Bay. The chart also highlights numerous shallow bodies of water such as Hatchet Lake and Raccoon Lake, illustrating the fluid nature of the Louisiana gulf coast during the mid-twentieth century.