1893 Map of East Delta

About this map

Balize and Port Eads stand as the primary outposts at the terminus of the Mississippi River, where the vast delta fractures into its final passes. This 1891 survey, based on U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey data, captures the complex hydrology of the mouth before major 20th-century alterations. Landmarks such as the Old Spanish Magazine and the Revenue Station mark the historical government and military presence required to manage this strategic maritime gateway. Navigation is the central theme of the landscape, defined by the East Jetty and West Jetty systems designed to maintain channel depth, alongside a network of beacons including the South Pass Light and Pass A Loutre Light. Unusual geological formations known as North Mud Lumps and South Mud Lumps dot the outer edges of the passes, while internal waterways like Buttermilk Channel and Woodward Canal reveal the intricate local efforts to navigate the marshy interior of Plaquemines Parish.