1935 Map of Taylor Pass

About this map

Breton Sound dominates this mid-1930s coastal survey, revealing the intricate water-and-land interface of St. Bernard Parish before modern coastal changes. Produced by the State of Louisiana Board of State Engineers and the USGS, the map utilizes early aerial photography from the U.S. Army Air Corps to document the shifting marshlands. Tiny outcrops like Bird and Sable sit isolated in the sound, while the southern reaches of the sheet are defined by the wide expanse of Grand Bay and the winding Blackjack Bayou. The name-giving Taylor Pass cuts through the marsh, serving as a critical navigable link in this aqueous landscape. This map captures the deltaic environment in a specific state of flux, providing a precise baseline of the islands and inlets that have long been subject to the forces of the Gulf.