1953 Map of Cat Island Pass

About this map

Terrebonne Bay and the open Gulf of Mexico meet in this mid-century hydrographic and topographic study of the Louisiana coast. The map highlights the shifting barrier island geography and early industrial presence in the marshes, most notably the Caillou Island Field with its network of infrastructure. Navigational aids like Marker No 1 and a Light help define the shipping channel through Cat Island Pass, a critical maritime artery. The landscape shows the exposure of Wine Island and the elongated stretch of Timbalier Island, where a solitary Oil Well is recorded. This 1950s documentation, compiled from aerial photography and planetable surveys, captures a specific era of coastal morphology and mineral exploration before significant late-century erosion altered the shoreline of Terrebonne Parish.