1921 Map of Petit Bois Island

About this map

Petit Bois Island stretches across the maritime frontier of the Gulf Coast, serving as a narrow barrier between the open Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi Sound. Produced by the Corps of Engineers under the direction of Col. W. M. Black, this reconnaissance survey documents the island's shifting sands and military significance following the turn of the century. The Alabama Mississippi Boundary Line bisects the island, marking a political division in an otherwise fluid coastal landscape. Of particular interest to maritime historians is the Horn Light. located off the western tip and the U.S. Gov't Reservation established on the eastern half. The map details natural features like East Point and a freshwater Spring, highlighting the island's strategic role in the land approaches to coastal fortifications during this era.