Pilie, Joseph
1828

Original Antique Plan of New Orleans Waterfront

Plan of the Front Part of the City of New Orleans, in 1818.

DESCRIPTION: Scarce, early 19th-century engraved plan by city surveyor Gilbert Joseph Pilie depicting the Mississippi (with only one "P") River waterfront with levee and wharfs along New Orleans' French Quarter. Shows the levees, wharves, and a few buildings along the first block fronting the Mississippi River.

Signed by Jh. Pilie, New Orleans, Nov. 15th, 1827. According to "Charting Louisiana" Gilbert Joseph Pilie had been an assistant to Barthelemy Lafon after emigrating to the U.S. from Santo Domingo before 1805. (Lemmon, Magill, and Wiese eds. "Charting Louisiana: Five Hundred Years of Maps". 2003. p. 321.)

Notable features include the water works, Custom House and Market Hall (that site now is home to the famous ~~Morning Call~~ Café du Monde coffee house where tourists line up for beignets and café au lait). Several street names have changed since that time (Iberville Street was then called Custom House Street) and Jackson Square is simply named "Public Square".

From the "Memorial of the Mayor, Aldermen and Inhabitants of New Orleans". 20th Congress, 1st Session. Washington: Gales & Seaton, 1828.

CREATOR: Pilie, Joseph

PUBLICATION DATE: 1828

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States

BODY OF WATER: Mississippi River

CONDITION: Very Good. Clean steel engraving with 3 vertical folds as issued. No tears.

COLORING: None

ENGRAVER: Unknown

SIZE: 22 " x 7 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 0

PRICE: $250

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