The wreckage of Teche, a steamship, lies buried below the surface at this site. Built in 1860 for commercial use with a small side-wheeled shallow-draft western-style hull design, the vessel was originally named Sam Sugg and then Tom Sugg. The Confederate Army later converted it to a cottonclad warship to command the White River during the Civil War. After capture in Arkansas by the Union Army, Sugg was recommissioned as U.S.S. Tensas, converted to an armored gunboat, outfitted with two 24-pounder howitzers, and designated Tinclad No. 39 in the Third Division of the Mississippi Squadron. In 1865, after decommissioning, E.B. Trinidad of New Iberia purchased Tensas at auction and renamed her Teche. The Attakapas Mail Transportation Company then used Teche for trade between Morgan City and New Iberia, docking at the foot of the Weeks Street Landing. After a wreck in 1868, the vessel was pulled against the shore for salvage. In 2004, Teche was discovered sunken at the present location, and in 2008 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.