Anonymous
1853

Lake Pontchartrain Harbour and Breakwater

Sketch of The Pontchartrain Harbour and Breakwater. Louisiana

DESCRIPTION: Fascinating plan of the southern shore of Lake Ponchartrain in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1853. During that era both Bayou St. John and the New Canal (the present 17th Street Canal) were navigable to small vessels; a lighthouse is shown at the mouth of each canal. The plan shows projected construction of wooden breakwaters in the lake that were designed "to furnish safe anchorage in front of the termini of the Pontchartrain Railroad, Bayou St John, and New Canal…".

Other depicted features include Milneburg, then a suburb of New Orleans connected to it by the Pontchartrain Railroad, two lighthouses, and the Jefferson and Lake Pontchartrain Railroad in what is now Jefferson Parish. Construction details of the wooden breakwater are shown in profile and elevation.

Today neither of the two railroad lines linking New Orleans to the Lakefront exist. Neither Bayou St. John nor the 17th Street Canal (a large drainage ditch) are navigable. In fact a section of the 17th Street Canal failed after Hurricane Katrina and was responsible for flooding a large part of New Orleans and at least 31 deaths. The deadly breach in the canal can be located on the plan near the bottom of the shaded high land directly adjacent to the New Canal.

Dated October 30th, 1853. Printed by Wagner and Mc Guigan Lithographers, Philadelphia. For reference see:

CREATOR: Anonymous

PUBLICATION DATE: 1853

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States

BODY OF WATER: Lake Pontchartrain

CONDITION: Fair Seven vertical folds as issued. One small invisible repaired tear at top. Separation at first fold repaired with very minor loss. Clean, with no foxing.

COLORING: None

ENGRAVER:

SIZE: 35 " x 8 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 10

PRICE: $225

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