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1891 Map of Spanish Fort

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Spanish Fort
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1891
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1891

About this map

Lake Pontchartrain defines the northern reaches of this coastal landscape, where the lakefront developments of late 19th-century New Orleans meet the water. The survey reveals a grid-pattern expansion pressing toward the shoreline, punctuated by strategic maritime and recreational outposts like Spanish Fort and Milneburg. These settlements, along with West End, functioned as vital gateways for the city's connection to the lake, supported by early infrastructure including multiple Light House structures that guided vessels safely to port.

Transportation networks of the 1890s are clearly delineated, showing the N. O. & N. E. R. R. and L. & N. R. R. cutting through the marshy terrain toward the eastern edge of the city. To the southeast, the settlement of Gentilly sits along the rail lines, illustrating the early footprint of suburban growth before the massive drainage projects of the 20th century transformed the surrounding wetlands.