NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) -- A piece of pirate lore is now permanently etched into the heart of New Iberia.

A new Legends & Lore marker has been unveiled at Place Eugénie in downtown New Iberia to honor the long-told tale of the “Teche Tunnel.” The legend claims that notorious pirate Jean Lafitte once used a hidden trap door and tunnel beneath the old Mount Carmel School to escape pursuers and possibly stashed buried treasure along Bayou Teche.

John “Pudd” Sharp with Center for Louisiana Studies shared how the marker is part of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation’s Legends & Lore program, which commemorates local folklore and stories that shape communities, even if they aren’t verified history.

“The tunnel legend is that there was a trap door or an escape route tunnel in the old Mount Carmel School that supposedly Jean Lafitte used to get to the river, to get away from people who were chasing him,” Sharp said.

Sharp said pirate legends endure because people want to believe in them and sharing them helps connect generations. He hopes the marker will give visitors something memorable to latch onto.

“There’s intergenerational stories that are told over time that are really great, and I think a visitor to New Iberia will have something to attach to because everyone knows about pirates,” said Sharp.

Erin Bass with the local nonprofit T.E.C.H.E. Project said they partnered with the Center for Louisiana Studies to sponsor the marker as part of their effort to celebrate the history and culture of Bayou Teche.

“This type of marker has been on our wish list for a while. It fulfills our culture and history initiative, which is part of our mission. So, to be able to get this grant and put up a marker about such a fun legend is just really exciting for us,” Bass said.

Bass said the community response has already been overwhelming, with residents sharing family stories about the tunnel and even some claiming to be descendants of Lafitte himself.

“People are really relating to this story… and the prospect of buried treasure is always something that’s fun to consider. You never know,” laughed Bass.

Sharp said he hopes to see more Legends & Lore markers pop up across Louisiana, celebrating local folklore before it fades away.

The Teche Tunnel marker was officially unveiled Thursday at 4 p.m. at Place Eugénie in New Iberia, ensuring this piece of Acadiana folklore will be remembered for generations to come.