1893 Map of West Delta

About this map

Mississippi River delta sediments define this intricate maritime landscape in Plaquemines Parish during the late nineteenth century. The map documents the critical maritime infrastructure at the Head of Passes, where the mighty river bifurcates into various outlets towards the Gulf of Mexico. Navigation is the primary focus, illustrated by the network of channels including South West Pass, Main Pass, and Grand Pass. The survey records several aid-to-navigation structures vital for river pilots and international shipping, notably the Custom House and Pilot Lookout situated far down the narrow finger of land. In addition to the functional South West Pass Light, the presence of the Old Light Tower suggests a shifting coastline and the evolution of maritime technology in this dynamic alluvial environment. This 1891 survey data captures the delta before extensive twentieth-century modifications changed the hydrology of outlets like Cubit Gap and Scott Canal.