1951 Map of Spanish Fort

About this map

Lake Pontchartrain defines the northern edge of this New Orleans landscape, where mid-century urban expansion meets the water. The lakefront is a hub of institutional and recreational activity, featuring Pontchartrain Beach and the New Orleans Airport jutting into the lake. Inland, the grid of New Orleans is bisected by a network of drainage and transport waterways, including the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal and Bayou St. John. This era of the city's development is marked by significant federal and local infrastructure, such as the Veterans Administration Hospital and the Milne Home For Boys. The map also captures the historic site of Spanish Fort and the small settlement of Demourelles near the southern edge of City Park, providing a look at the residential and civic layout before the extensive interstate developments of later decades.