MANILA VILLAGE ... At the turn of the 19th century, in nearby Barataria Bay, a group of Filipinos built raised structures on stilts above the water, which became known as Manila Village. These shrimp drying platform structures became one of the forerunners of the Louisiana shrimp drying industry. Local fisherman Quintin de la Cruz spearheaded the construction and development of manila Village. The platform community flourished for several decades until Hurricane Betsy completely destroyed it in 1965 ERECTED BY: PHILIPPINE-LOUISIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.

, Jean Lafitte, United States