Morgan City, LA

Max Pollak

Max Pollak did this color intaglio around 1935 when he and his wife Friedl were traveling across the United States, eventually settling in San Francisco, California. On his travels he recorded his impressions, sometimes the architecture and the neighborhoods and activities there.

In Morgan City, LA, Pollak captured the essence of an historic city with fishing vessels moored alongside the quaint main street. Morgan City is a city within St. Mary Parish and sits on the banks of the Atchafalaya River and its inhabitants have long been workers in the petroleum and shrimping industries.

In the upper left, the Long-Allen Bridge, a K-truss bridge built in 1933, spans the river. Pollak's etched lines suggest a delicate expanse but this bridge has three 607 foot main K-truss spans that are the longest known K-truss spans in America. It is one of the most beautiful and significant historic bridges in the state of Louisiana.