1954 Map of Fort St. Philip

About this map

Ft Jackson and Ft St Philip guard the strategic bends of the Mississippi River in this coastal survey, highlighting the military significance of the lower Plaquemines delta. This mid-century view documents a landscape where terra firma is defined by narrow levees and a complex network of man-made waterways like the Buras Drainage Canal and Valer Canal. Small riverfront communities such as Boothville, Triumph, and Olga appear as linear settlements hemmed in by the river and the encroaching marshlands of Bay Carrion Crow and Yellow Cotton Bay. The map reveals the intricate transition from riverine geography to the open Gulf waters via Spanish Pass, providing a clear look at the region's hydraulic dependence and the infrastructure required to manage the marsh, including a specific Pump House used for drainage.