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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

Shell Beach sits at the terminus of the Old Bayou Railroad Grade, marking a key point where the land meets the expansive Lake Borgne. This 1939 survey of St. Bernard Parish captures a coastal landscape defined by a complex network of wetlands and tidal channels, including the winding course of La Loutre Bayou. The map documents the presence of Old Ft Beauregard and Camp Hygeia, offering a look at the military and social footprint on this fragile shore before mid-century changes.

Settlement patterns are concentrated near the bayou ridges, with Yscloskey and Alluvial City standing as the primary inland hubs. Beyond these outposts, the terrain dissolves into an intricate maze of lagoons and bayous, such as South Branch Bayou Biloxi and Muscelini Bayou. The map serves as a detailed record of the St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parish boundary, tracing the transition from solid ground to the open waters of Lake Jean Louis Robin and Lake Coquille.