1891 Map of New Orleans

About this map

The crescent bend of the Mississippi River anchors this 1890 survey, showing the dense urban grid of New Orleans as it existed in the late nineteenth century. Beyond the city center, the map reveals the complex hydraulic and transit systems that shaped the region, from the Harveys Canal to the major rail lines like the Texas and Pacific Railroad and the Southern Pacific Railroad lining the riverbanks. The southern half of the map transitions into the sprawling wetlands of Jefferson Parish, dominated by Lake Cataouatche and Lake Salvador. Local history is captured in the specific notations of smaller settlements like Gretna, Algiers, and Macdonoughville, as well as the notable Bell Crevasse, a reminder of the constant threat of river breaches during this era of development.