1946 Map of Pass Du Bois

About this map

The Gulf of Mexico dominates this coastal survey, where the terrestrial footprint of the Mississippi River Delta meets the open sea. This advance sheet focuses on the intricate waterways of the lower delta, specifically the complex of marsh and inlets including Pass Du Bois and Pass La Graisse. Based on aerial photographs taken by the Air Corps and field examinations conducted in the mid-1930s, the map illustrates the delicate, ever-shifting boundary between land and water. The eastern portion of the sheet reveals the tidal marshes of West Bay, providing a window into the natural topography of Plaquemines Parish before modern coastal erosion significantly altered these barrier systems. It serves as a vital record of the delta's configuration at a time when traditional water routes were the primary means of navigating this expansive coastal wilderness.