Loading map...

1953 Map of Timbalier Island

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Timbalier Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Timbalier Island and its surrounding barrier features stand at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, defining the boundary between the open sea and the protected waters of Timbalier Bay. In the mid-1950s, the landscape was heavily influenced by the offshore petroleum industry, notably at the Caillou Island Oil Field, which is marked by extensive networks of platforms, dolphins, and pilling.

The map reveals a fragile coastal geography where names like Casse-tete Island, Brush Island, and the Pelican Islands dot the marshy transition between Terrebonne Bay and the gulf. These coastal features are separated by tidal openings such as Caillou Pass and Little Pass Timbalier. Industry infrastructure is visible throughout the area, including a prominent Radio Tower and numerous Oil Wells, reflecting the region's mid-century shift toward large-scale resource extraction.