1951 Map of Grand Gosier Islands

About this map

Breton National Wildlife Refuge encompasses the fragile arc of the Grand Gosier Islands as they stood in the early 1950s. This survey, compiled from aerial photography and planetable fieldwork, documents the shifting coastal morphology of Plaquemines Parish before decades of erosion and tropical storms altered these landforms. The map captures the interface between the Gulf of Mexico and Breton Sound, revealing the extensive Shallow Area and navigational hazards like Myth Shoal and the northern Errol Islands. As a part of the greater Chandeleur Islands chain, these features served as critical habitat and natural barriers. The detail provided, including specific locations of breakers and shoals, provides an essential baseline for environmental historians and researchers studying the long-term changes of the Louisiana coastline.