The Great Flood Project is actively researching sites that will become part of a commemorative trail across the Mississippi River Valley. These sites are designated by communities as historically significant to the 1927 flood and will be mapped on the interactive map as part of the centennial’s archive. Learn more by going to the Get Involved page. Please contact us at 1927flood@lthp.org or complete the Community Interest Form if you wish to participate in the marker program.
The inaugural marker for the Great Flood Project was installed in New Roads, Louisiana (Pointe Coupee Parish) on December 16, 2025. For more, see Historical Marker: New Roads, Louisiana.
Markers in Progress
Louisiana: Big Bend/Moreauville (Avoyelles Parish); West Monroe (Ouachita Parish); Natchitoches (Natchitoches Parish); Morgan City (St. Mary Parish)
Concept & Design
The design features an aluminum pole with a custom-spun funnel at its top to allow rainwater to flow through, and a compass plate at the base that provides regional historical facts and directional information related to other impacted sites in the area. For sites that experienced flooding during the Great Flood, the pole will feature a gauge to mark the depth of floodwaters at that location. As rainwater flows through the marker, galvanic reactions between the metals will produce a rust line, a visual reminder of the actual depth of floodwaters.
The compass plate and pole
- The compass plate (base) features 8-10 historical facts related to the community/surrounding area and the 1927 flood.
- These site facts/stories will correspond with a compass point to show their location and the distance (in miles) these sites are from where the marker stands, so stories from a broader area may be included on one marker.
- The pole features general facts about the Great Flood that will be standard across all markers.
- When applicable, the pole will feature a “Flood Level” watermark that denotes the approximate height of floodwaters at that location.
- When thinking about marker placement, communities should choose a site that is not only historically significant but also accessible and sustainable for the future.
The timeline for fabrication and production to installation of the marker is approximately 3 months. A minimum $5,000 deposit is due prior to the start of production with the balance due prior to delivery and installation. Communities are responsible for designating and obtaining approval for a site, determining the water depth at that location (if applicable), conducting research for the marker’s facts/stories, and planning an event or dedication ceremony.
Watermark Marker Options
The watermark markers are fabricated options that provide communities with an affordable opportunity to 1.) show the depth of floodwaters & 2.) tell a community story about the 1927 Flood via attachment to an existing structure at a specific site. Please reach out to the Louisiana Trust for more information if your community is interested in this option.
The design features an aluminum pole with a custom-spun funnel at its top to allow rainwater to flow through, and a compass plate at the base that provides regional historical facts and directional information related to other impacted sites in the area. For sites that experienced flooding during the Great Flood, the pole will feature a gauge to mark the depth of floodwaters at that location. As rainwater flows through the marker, galvanic reactions between the metals will produce a rust line, a visual reminder of the actual depth of floodwaters.
The compass plate and pole
- The compass plate (base) features 8-10 historical facts related to the community/surrounding area and the 1927 flood.
- These site facts/stories will correspond with a compass point to show their location and the distance (in miles) these sites are from where the marker stands, so stories from a broader area may be included on one marker.
- The pole features general facts about the Great Flood that will be standard across all markers.
- When applicable, the pole will feature a “Flood Level” watermark that denotes the approximate height of floodwaters at that location.
- When thinking about marker placement, communities should choose a site that is not only historically significant but also accessible and sustainable for the future.
The timeline for fabrication and production to installation of the marker is approximately 3 months. A minimum $5,000 deposit is due prior to the start of production with the balance due prior to delivery and installation. Communities are responsible for designating and obtaining approval for a site, determining the water depth at that location (if applicable), conducting research for the marker’s facts/stories, and planning an event or dedication ceremony.
Watermark Marker Options
The watermark markers are fabricated options that provide communities with an affordable opportunity to 1.) show the depth of floodwaters & 2.) tell a community story about the 1927 Flood via attachment to an existing structure at a specific site. Please reach out to the Louisiana Trust for more information if your community is interested in this option.
Meet the Artist
Joel Breaux is a designer, public artist, and fabricator. His multi-faceted business BRODesign and partnership with Krivanek+Breaux/Art+Design form the basis for his unique capability: the vision to create and implement comprehensive, multifaceted projects in the urban environment throughout the United States. As a designer he has worked on numerous architectural, environmental graphic and public art projects and has been published in Graphis, Communication Arts, ID Magazine,and Architectural Record. His work was also exhibited in the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum exhibit “Design Culture Now.”