locater map
 
Noah Webster
"The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles, which enjoins humility, piety, and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free Constitutions of Government."
Father of American Education
 
Dwight D. Eisenhower
"Every step we take towards making the State the Caretaker of our lives, by that much we move toward making the State our Master."
President
 
Abraham Lincoln
"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."
President
 
Martin Luther King Jr.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.:
Civil Rights Leader

Louisiana

Entered the Union: April 30, 1812 (18) State Tree
Bald Cypress

State Flower

Magnolia
State Bird
Eastern Brown Pelican
State Animal
Louisiana Black Bear

State Dog
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Capital: Baton Rouge
Origin of Name: in honor of Louis XIV of France
State Nickname: Pelican State
State Motto: Union, justice and confidence
State Forests: 1 • State Parks: 35
Famous for: Jazz, French Quarter, Mardi Gras
State Song: “Give Me Louisiana" • "You are My Sunshine"
Famous Louisianans: Louis Armstrong • Fats Domino • Wynton Marsalis • Jelly Roll Morton (jazz musicians), Geoffrey Beene (fashion designer), Truman Capote (writer), Kitty Carlisle (singer, actress), Van Cliburn (concert pianist), Bryant Gumbel (TV newscaster), Jean Laffiete (pirate), Jerry Lee Lewis (singer)
Animals and Birds: Click on photos of the animals and birdson this page to find out more about them and to hear the sounds they make.
State Fair: Baton Rouge
LA state dog
Louisiana Black Bear
Historic flags that have flown over Louisiana
Oak Alley
egret-Lake Martin
Alligator
Mississippi River
jazz and mardi gras mask
Louisiana National Forest
Louisiana State Parks
Louisiana Historic Sites
Louisiana Attractions
JazzFest
New Orleans Saints (NFL)
New Orleans Hornets (NBA)
Fishing in Louisiana
Hunting in Louisiana
Listen to Pelican's Song
LA Photo Gallery 1 2
Louisiana Butterfly Gallery
Louisiana Homeschooling
Louisiana Resorts
Louisiana RV Parks
Louisiana Hotels & Reviews
Louisiana Restaurants & Reviews
In 1682, Sieur de la Salle reached the mouth of the Mississippi and claimed all the land drained by it and its tributaries for Louis XIV of France. Louisiana became a French crown colony in 1731 but was ceded to Spain in 1763 after the French and Indian Wars. Louisiana reverted to France in 1800 and was sold by Napoleon to the U.S. in 1803 (the "Louisiana Purchase").
The town of Jean Lafitte was once a hideaway for pirates.
Louisiana has the longest coastline (15,000 miles) of any state and 41 percent of the nation's wetlands.
Louisiana has the greatest concentration of crude oil refineries, natural gas processing plants and petrochemical production facilities in the Western Hemisphere.
Parts of the Mississippi River delta plain near New Orleans lie below sea level.
The first Tarzan movie was filmed in Louisiana in 1917.
Mardi Gras is an ancient custom that originated in southern Europe. It celebrates food and fun just before the 40 days of Lent: a Catholic time of prayer and sacrifice. This custom was brought to Louisiana by the French.
Louisiana is the only state in the union that does not have counties. Its political subdivisions are called parishes.
Louisiana is the only state with a large population of Cajuns, descendants of the French-speaking Acadians who were driven out of Canada in the 1700s because they wouldn't pledge allegiance to the King of England.
The Acadians were joined by another group of settlers called Creoles, descendants of African, West Indian, and European pioneers. At the time of the migration, Louisiana was under Spanish rule and authorities welcomed the new settlers.
The Superdome in New Orleans is the worlds largest steel-constructed room unobstructed by posts.
Breaux Bridge is known as the "Crawfish Capital of the World".
Jennings is called the "Garden Spot of Louisiana" for it's rich and productive farmland.
The pelican, rather than let its young starve, would tear at its own flesh to feed them.
Winnsboro, the "Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana", is one of the most patriotic cities in America. On Memorial Day, July 4th, Veteran's Day, Labor Day, and other special occasions, approximately 350 American flags fly proudly along highway 15.
The American Alligator is Louisiana's state reptile.
The golden spike, commemorating the completion of the east-west Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railroad, was driven at Bossier City on July 12, 1884, by Julia "Pansy" Rule.
Rayne is known as the "The Frog Capital of the World".
Louisiana's Ethnic Roots: African 32.5%, French 16.2%, American 10.1%, German 7.1%, Irish 7%, Italian 4.4%.
Religion in Louisiana: 80% Christian (50% Protestant, 30% Catholic, 1% Other), 10% Other Religions, 10% No Religion
Covington, known for its clean air and water, is in a region referred to as the Ozone Belt
Hurricane Katrina (Aug. 29, 2005) was the sixth-strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the third-strongest hurricane on record that made landfall in the U.S. Katrina caused catastrophic damage along the Gulf coast, devastating the cities of Mobile, Alabama; Waveland and Biloxi/Gulfport in Mississippi; New Orleans and other towns in Louisiana.

At least 1,836 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina and in the subsequent floods, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane. Damages are estimated at $81.2 billion, making it the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving - Thanking God for His blessings
Thanksgiving Day November 28, 2024
In 1621, 52 Pilgrims and approx. 50 Native Americans celebrated a 3-day feast thanking God for His blessings enabling their survival in the New World. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November.
Advent
Advent
December 1, 2024
Advent begins 4 weeks before Christmas and remembers the longing and waiting of God's people for the coming of the Messiah.
Bill of Rights Day

Bill of Rights Day

December 15, 1791
Bill of Rights Day

Celebrating the 10 amendments to the Constitution which protect individual rights by placing specific limits on government power. These freedoms do not exist in many countries of the world.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day
December 25th Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. This joyous festival is enjoyed by Christians and nonChristians alike all over the world.