1955 Map of Oak Mound Bayou

About this map

Oak Mound Bayou serves as the namesake for this intricate aquatic landscape within St. Bernard Parish, where a labyrinth of wetlands meets the Gulf waters. The 1955 survey documents a complex network of coastal features including Shell Island Lake and Fishing Smack Bay, capturing the deltaic structure before decades of coastal change. The map identifies specific navigable arteries and hazards such as Dutchman Pass, Hell Pass Coast, and Catfish Pass, which were essential for local fishers and trappers of the era. Landforms like Raccoon Island and Anderson Point provide fixed markers in an otherwise fluid environment of marshes and mudflats. The inclusion of Deadmans Bayou and Live Oak Bayou offers a glimpse into the local nomenclature and landmarks used by generations of residents navigating these expansive Louisiana wetlands.