1947 Map of Lake Eloi

About this map

Lake Eloi and the surrounding marshlands of St. Bernard Parish are meticulously documented in this mid-century survey, based on aerial photography from the U.S. Army Air Corps. The landscape is a labyrinth of water and silt, where narrow waterways like Bayou La Loutre and Treasure Pass provided vital transit through the wetlands. Small named outposts such as Christmas Camp, Petre, and Eddie suggest the seasonal or specialized nature of human activity in this tidal environment, likely centered on fishing or trapping. The intricate network of artificial channels, including Engineers Canal, Bakers Canal, and Isaacs Ditch, highlights early efforts to manage water flow and navigation through the delta. From Drum Lake in the north to Lake Athanasio in the south, the map details the fragile transition between the Louisiana mainland and the Gulf of Mexico.