1892 Map of St. Bernard

About this map

The Mississippi River creates a dramatic, looping path through the marshy lowlands of St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes in the late 19th century. This survey, revised by the Corps of Engineers before 1921, shows the intricate hydraulic landscape where human engineering met the delta's wetlands. Key infrastructure like the Lake Borgne Canal connects the river to Lake Borgne, while the Louisiana Southern railroad serves as the primary overland artery, branching off toward the coast. Coastal defense is noted at Battery Bienvenue, situated among a network of bayous including Bayou Bienvenue and Bayou Mazent. Settlement is concentrated along the river's natural levees, with historic landing points and villages such as Poydras, Saxonholm, and English Turn. appearing as critical waypoints between the city and the gulf.