1958 Map of West Delta

About this map

The Mississippi River splits into its final distributaries here in Plaquemines Parish, forming the complex birds-foot delta landscape. This 1958 survey captures the critical transition from river to gulf, anchored by the settlement of Pilottown and the strategic Head of Passes. The map illustrates a region defined by maritime necessity and natural preservation, featuring the Old Quarantine Station and the Quarantine Cupola (USC&GS) alongside the Delta National Wildlife Refuge. The marshy terrain is a labyrinth of named bodies including Zinzin Bay, Chawee Bay, and Bay Tambour. Industrial footprints are evident in several offshore areas such as Block 52 and various Oil and Gas Fields, showing how the mid-century energy economy began to overlay the older delta landscape of oyster bays and bird sanctuaries like the Riverside Bay Sanctuary.