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1893 Map of West Delta

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of West Delta
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1928
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1928

About this map

The deltaic finger of the South West Pass extends deep into the Gulf of Mexico, anchoring this maritime survey of the southernmost reaches of Plaquemines Parish. Topography compiled by H.L. Baldwin Jr. captures the precarious landscape of the lower Mississippi River, where the entire area sits less than five feet above sea level. This is a world of navigational infrastructure and shifting silts, dominated by the branching distributaries of Grand Pass, Tiger Pass, and Williams Pass.

Maritime history is evident in the cluster of aids to navigation, including the South West Pass Light, the Old Light Tower, and the Head of Passes Light. The presence of the Custom House and Pilot Lookout near the southern tip illustrates the critical role this corridor played in regulating trade and guiding vessels through the treacherous mudflats of West Bay and East Bay. Minor human interventions like Scott Canal appear as sharp lines against the organic, fraying edges of the marsh.