1946 Map of Rigolets

About this map

Ft Pike stands at the western entrance of The Rigolets, a critical deep-water strait connecting Lake Pontchartrain with Lake Borgne. This intricate coastal landscape, documented through 1935 aerial photography, reveals a complex network of marshland passages such as Sawmill Pass and Counterfeit Pass. The transition from the high ground of Apple Pie Ridge to the low-lying reaches of Prevost Island and Desert Id illustrates the fragile interface between the Mississippi Sound and the inland lakes. Infrastructure of the era is marked by the Louisville and Nashville railroad line and State Highway No 90, which cross the marsh via Rigolets. Notable maritime markers including the W Rigolets L H and various bayou entrances like Grand Coin Bayou highlight the area's importance for local navigation and coastal defense during the mid-20th century.