Spaniards settled in the Canary Islands and then migrated to St. Bernard Parish starting in 1778.
To this day an identifiable subculture remains in the far reaches of St. Bernard Parish. The
LosIsleños festival in late March provides parades, music and food to commemorate this unique culture.
The Islenos Museum in St. Bernard Parish
was crushed by a huge tree that toppled during
Hurricane Katrina. Its remains were finally removed March 14, 2008. The museum, a 19th Century cottage located in St.
Bernard Village, was also flooded during the hurricane. Parish
historian Bill Hyland said the fallen tree exposed widescale termite
damage dating back several decades.