1958 Map of West Delta

About this map

Pilottown stands as the primary human outpost in this 1958 survey of the lower Mississippi River delta, where the river's Main Pass and Cubits Gap give way to the Gulf of Mexico. This landscape is defined by the transition between land and water, featuring an intricate network of bays like Chawee Bay and Zinzin Bay, and numerous ponds including Andres Pond, Locust Pond, and Buras Pond. The map reveals the era's critical maritime and industrial infrastructure, from the Old Quarantine Station and Quarantine Cupola near the riverbank to the expansive offshore Oil and Gas Fields designated in blocks. Conservation areas such as the Delta National Wildlife Refuge and the Tern Islands bird sanctuary illustrate the environmental significance of these marshes. Navigational markers like the Head of Passes Gage and Sandy Pt. Bay Ent. Light reflect the constant management required for the shipping lanes of Plaquemines Parish.