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1891 Map of New Orleans

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of New Orleans
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1920
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1920

About this map

The crescent bend of the Mississippi River anchors this 1890 survey, showing the dense urban grid of New Orleans as it expanded toward City Park and the outlying neighborhoods of Algiers and Gretna. This era was defined by a massive concentration of rail infrastructure, with lines like the Texas and Pacific Railroad and the Southern Pacific Railroad converging along the riverbanks to serve the city's port.

South of the city, the landscape transitions into a complex network of waterways and wetlands. Notable features include Harvey's Canal and the La Branche Canal, which facilitated movement through the marshes toward Lake Cataouatche and Lake Salvador. The presence of the Bell Crevasse near Amesville serves as a reminder of the river's historical volatility before modern levee systems. Smaller settlements like Macdonoughville, Westwego, and Jesuit Bend are documented along the river's lower reaches, providing a detailed look at the Plaquemines and Jefferson Parish riverfronts.