[StBernard] Old Arabi jail future site of Sugar Museum

[Westley Annis]

Old Arabi jail future site of Sugar Museum

Updated: May 18, 2012 5:18 PM CDT
 

Chalmette, La. - St. Bernard will soon be home to the first-ever sugar
museum.  St. Bernard President Dave Peralta has given the green light to the
Office of Tourism to begin planning for the future site of the St. Bernard
Parish Sugar Museum.  The museum will be located in the Old Arabi Jail at
220 Hernandez Street in the Historic District.

The Sugar Museum exhibit will showcase the history and culture sugar has
created for this area.  The museum will be promoted regionally to tell the
story of St. Bernard's Sugar Trail and parish officials hope it will be
another attraction to encourage people to visit the Parish.

The Old Arabi Jail is currently undergoing a $528,000 restoration which
should be completed by mid-summer.  Once renovations are complete, museum
exhibits including sugar products, artifacts for refining sugar and virtual
tours are all being planned for St. Bernard's newest tourist attraction. The
project will be partially funded by the Louisiana Tourism Recovery Grant.