1951 Map of Cat Island

About this map

Juan De Cuevas Claim Cat Island dominates this mid-century coastal survey, reflecting the complex land tenure history of the Gulf Coast. The island's geography is defined by its shifting sand structures, most notably the Great Sand Hill and several elongated features like Phoenix Spit and Raccoon Spit. These landforms act as a barrier between the Mississippi Sound to the north and the expansive Chandeleur Sound to the south. The chart captures the intricate interplay of water and land in the early 1950s, detailing internal waterways like North Bayou and Little Bay, while marking navigational aids such as a Light and a Flowing Well near the shoreline. The presence of Stumps along the southern margin of Cat Island suggests a landscape in constant flux, shaped by the tides and storms of the Mississippi and Louisiana borderlands.