1892 Map of St. Bernard

About this map

Battery Bienvenue stands watch over the marshlands east of the Mississippi River, marking a landscape where military history and delta geography converge. The survey reveals a coastal environment defined by intricate waterways like Bayou Bienvenue and the expansive Lake Borgne. Human activity follows the natural levees and artificial cuts, most notably the Lake Borgne Canal and the curving path of the New Orleans and Gulf Railroad. Small riverfront settlements such as Saxonholm, English Turn, and Little Rock line the river's banks, while the Shell Beach Branch extends eastward toward the coast. This network of rails and canals facilitated the movement of goods through the lowlands of St Bernard and Plaquemines parishes, connecting isolated outposts like Reggio and Contreras to the commerce of the river.