1951 Map of Freemason Island

About this map

Breton National Wildlife Refuge encompasses the fragile, shifting geography of this coastal St. Bernard Parish landscape. The narrow strip of Freemason Island serves as a critical barrier between the open expanse of Chandeleur Sound and the more sheltered waters of Shoalwater Bay. Based on aerial photographs and planetable surveys conducted in 1950, this map records a specific configuration of sandbars and points, including Point Neptune and Point Hope, that are subject to constant reshaping by the Gulf. The hydrography, compiled from Coast and Geodetic Survey charts, details the shallow depths of the surrounding waters and landmarks like Shell Bar and Old Harbor Island Shoal. This remote marine environment is characterized by its lack of roads or trails, defined instead by the natural features of the North Islands and the submerged topography of the inner sound.