1951 Map of Wickliffe SW

About this map

The Mississippi River defines the shifting boundary between Kentucky and Missouri in this mid-century survey. Focusing on the complex fluvial environment of the river's main channel and secondary waterways, the map detail centers on a series of large river landmasses, including Islands Nos 2 3 & 4 and Wolf Island No 5. The presence of Lucas Bend and the Tennessee Slough illustrates the natural hydrology of the area before extensive modern channelization, showing how the river carved through the landscape to create features like No 4 Lake. These islands, separated by the Chute of Islands 2 3 & 4, represent a dynamic riparian borderland where the state lines of Missouri and Kentucky often follow historical water courses rather than the active main channel. For those studying the evolution of the Mississippi's path, this map provides a clear record of these islands as they existed in the early 1950s.