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1967 Map of Martello Castle

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Martello Castle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Martello Castle stands as a landmark overlooking the waters of Lake Borgne, marking a coastal landscape defined by its intricate network of bayous and industrial waterways during the late 1960s. The settlement at Shell Beach is positioned near the junction of numerous natural and man-made channels, including the Mississippi River - Gulf Outlet Canal and the Lake Borgne Canal. This era shows a marshy environment heavily modified by human engineering, characterized by an extensive Spoil Area and a long Levee system protecting the interior parishes.

The boundary between Orleans Parish and St. Bernard Parish cuts through a terrain of winding waterways like Bayou Mercier and Grand Bayou. Inland, the St Bernard High Sch serves the local community, while several drill holes and pipelines indicate the region's active energy infrastructure. The map provides a detailed record of the tidal marshes before significant modern coastal changes, capturing the alignment of Shell Beach Bayou and Mosquito Bayou as they meander through the wetlands.