1856 Last Island hurricane
- When
- 1856
- Where
- Last Island
- Episodes
- 3
The 1856 Last Island hurricane, known as the Great Storm of 1856, was a deadly tropical cyclone that struck Louisiana on August 10. It destroyed Last Island, splitting it into smaller islands. Approximately 400 vacationers were present; 198 were presumed dead and 203 survived. Offshore, at least 183 people drowned. The storm surge submerged the island, destroying all structures and crops.
Episodes
- Landfall on Last Island
The hurricane made landfall on Last Island late on August 10, 1856, with winds of 150 mph, destroying all structures.
- Casualties and Survivors
Of approximately 400 vacationers, 198 were presumed dead and 203 survived. At least 183 people drowned offshore.
- Geomorphological Fragmentation
The 1856 hurricane split Last Island in two, after which it became known as the Isles Dernières. Later tropical storms further fragmented it into smaller islands.
Background and detail
Background. Last Island (Isle Dernière) was a barrier island and pleasure resort southwest of New Orleans. It was the last in a series of barrier islands stretching westward from the Mississippi River. Before the hurricane, it featured white sand beaches and clear water, distinct from the marshy mainland. The island was located south of Dulac, between Lake Pelto, Caillou Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Storm Development. The cyclone was first detected in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on August 8, 1856. It was observed as a minimal hurricane near Dry Tortugas on August 9. Moving northwestward, it quickly intensified into a strong Category 4 hurricane by August 10. Late on August 10, it made landfall on Last Island with winds of 150 mph, hours before striking near New Iberia.
Impact and Legacy. A storm surge of 11 to 12 feet completely submerged Last Island, destroying virtually every structure, including hotels and casinos, and ruining all crops. The island was split into the Last Islands (Isles Dernieres). The event inspired Lafcadio Hearn's novel Chita: A Memory of Last Island (1889), which perpetuated several myths about the tragedy.
People involved
- Vacationers on Last Island · Victims and Survivors
- Offshore Sailors · Victims
Sources
- 1856 Last Island hurricane Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-11
- Last Island (Louisiana) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-26
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.