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1941 Map of Shell Beach

Name: 1941 Topographic Map of Shell Beach
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1941
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1941

About this map

Lake Borgne dominates the northern reaches of this coastal landscape, where the marshy wetlands of St. Bernard Parish meet the Gulf. The settlement of Shell Beach sits at a critical junction near the historic site of Old Ft Beauregard, marking a point of historical defense and commerce along the shoreline. Further inland, the map shows the transition from railroad-supported infrastructure to water-based transit, particularly evident where the Old Bayou Railroad Grade terminates near Alluvial City and Yscloskey.

A complex network of natural and man-made waterways, including Bayou La Loutre, Engineers Canal, and Bakers Canal, illustrates the extensive efforts to navigate and drain this low-lying territory. The presence of numerous named lagoons and bayous, such as Hopedale Lagoon and Musclelini Bayou, highlights the vital importance of the local aquatic geography to the region's early twentieth-century economy and settlement patterns.