1957 Map of Point Au Fer

About this map

Point Au Fer Island and the surrounding coastal reaches of St Mary Parish and Terrebonne Parish reveal a landscape defined by shifting sands and early industrial extraction. In the mid-1950s, the Point au Fer Oil Field is a central feature of the inland marsh, while a lone Shrimp Platform sits offshore near North Point. This survey captures the complex hydrography where the Lower Atchafalaya River meets the Gulf of Mexico, including the strategic positions of Pelican Battery and the navigational hazards of White Shell Reef. The transition from the open waters of Atchafalaya Bay to the interior bayous like Bayou Penchant illustrates the intricate network of passes and hammocks, such as Little Hammock and Narrow Hammock, that provided rare firm ground in this low-lying environment.