1998 Map of Martello Castle

About this map

Martello Castle stands as a landmark amidst the intricate marshlands and wetlands where Orleans Parish and St. Bernard Parish meet. This late 20th-century landscape is defined by the massive engineering of the Mississippi River - Gulf Outlet Canal, which cuts a wide path through the coastal terrain. The map documents an environment of transition, where natural waterways like Bienvenue Bayou and Shell Beach Bayou are intersected by industrial features, including extensive Spoil Areas and various Drill Holes. The network of interior channels, such as Dupre Bayou and Terre-Beau Bayou, highlights the complex hydrology of the region leading toward Lake Borgne. This survey captures the coast during a period of heavy maritime infrastructure development, showing the proximity of the Violet Canal to the shifting marsh islands and coastal bayous.