re: Anyone ever explored last island?

It was Mary, and the statue has moved a few times, most recently it was at the old rodeo weigh in dock at end of California Canal.

Some of you guys may outdate me, but I remember the island when it was 25 mi long and 1 mi wide. The old camp remains on the Gulf side of Whiskey Island were probably 200 yards from the surf. Lol

Many know about Horseshoe Reef, but have no idea why it's named that. One of my best fishing memories was standing on the horseshoe shaped reef that was probably 4 ft high, casting into the cove of the horseshoe w a Mirrolure I "borrowed" from my dad not even knowing how to tie a fishing knot at 9 years old. Hooked a nice one, lost it, told my dad the string broke. He looked at the end of the line and knew I was lying.

That's where I learned how to tie an improved clinch.

My family was related to 2 of the survivors of the hurricane in 1856. Emma Mille and a Dr. Duperier met during the rescue from the storm and resided in New Iberia. He ran the hospital there and they lived in what became Mt Carmel Academy next door. She used her wedding ring to carve her name in a stained glass window still there today.

The books y'all read probably contain some of that stuff. There were plans for an elaborate St Charles Hotel on the island prior to the storm, but there was much debate as to what actually existed, IIRC.