1967 Map of Martello Castle

About this map

Lake Borgne and the intricate marshlands of the Louisiana coast dominate this mid-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by significant maritime engineering and historic coastal defense. At the center of the waterway network stands Martello Castle, a sentinel near the confluence of the Mississippi River - Gulf Outlet Canal and numerous natural waterways like Shell Beach Bayou and Bayou Mercier. The map documents a period of transition as large-scale infrastructure projects took shape, including a control structure and expansive spoil areas alongside the canal. To the southwest, the settled edge of the marsh is visible near St Bernard High Sch, where a system of levees and a Floodgate protect the low-lying terrain from the encroaching waters of the gulf outlet and Camp Grand Bayou.