1967 Map of Martello Castle

About this map

Martello Castle stands at the mouth of Pollett Bayou, anchoring a landscape defined by the intersection of natural marshlands and massive mid-century infrastructure. This 1967 survey captures a period of intense hydraulic engineering, prominently featuring the Mississippi River - Gulf Outlet Canal and its associated Spoil Area. The map reveals the complex hydrology of the St. Bernard Parish coastline, where tidal channels like Dupre Bayou, Mercier Bayou, and Shell Beach Bayou weave through the wetlands toward Lake Borgne. Human modification of the terrain is evident in the extensive Levee systems and the Control Structure near the main canal. For local historians, the placement of the St Bernard High Sch and various drill holes provides specific points of interest amid the shifting marsh and industrial waterways.