Nicknames: Pelican State

Capitol: Baton Rouge

Motto: Union, justice, and confidence

Song: Give Me Louisiana words and music by: Doralice Fontane

Flower: Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora

Tree: Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum

Bird: Eastern Brown Pelican

Gained Statehood: April 30, 1812

Name Origin: Named in honor of France's King Louis XIV

Nothing says "Louisiana" like a party or a parade!
The biggest and perhaps best-known Louisiana festival is Mardi Gras! New Orleans' French Quarter attracts millions of adults each year, you'll find Mardi Gras parades and celebrations all over the state. Cajun towns celebrate with a horseback parade the "Courir de Mardi Gras" -- the traditional running of the Mardi Gras. You will also find boat parades in several locations. Shreveport, Lake Charles and Lafayette even have animal parades. Mardi Gras means celebration and no where does it better than Louisiana!
On Aug. 29, 2005, Louisiana was hit by Hurricane Katrina, devastating New Orleans, and killing hundreds elsewhere in the state, particularly in the parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard. In spite of this great disaster, New Orleans welcomes visitors with true Mardi Gras spirit.

No other state has a more colorful past than Louisiana. Louisiana has been governed under 10 different flags beginning in 1541 with Hernando de Soto's claim of the region for Spain. La Salle later claimed it for Bourbon France and over the years Louisiana was at one time or another subject to the Union Jack of Great Britain, the Tricolor of Napoleon, the Lone Star flag of the Republic of West Florida and the fifteen stars and stripes of the United States. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Louisiana became an independent republic for six weeks before joining the Confederacy. In 1803, Louisiana had become a part of the United States because of the region's importance to the trade and security. Louisiana reverted to France in 1800 and was sold by Napoleon to the U.S. in 1803. To get Louisiana in American hands, President Thomas Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase with Napoleon. The southern part, known as the territory of Orleans, became the state of Louisiana in 1812. With the acquisition of Louisiana, Jefferson nearly doubled the size of the fledgling U.S. and made it a world power. Later, 13 states or parts of states were carved out of the Louisiana Purchase territory. During the Civil War, Louisiana joined the Confederacy, but New Orleans was captured by Union Adm. David Farragut in April 1862. Louisiana's economy suffered during Reconstruction; however, the situation improved at the turn of the 20th century, with the discovery of oil and natural gas and the growth of industry.
Louisiana is now a leader in natural gas, salt, petroleum, and sulfur production. Much of the oil and sulfur comes from offshore deposits. They also produces large crops of sweet potatoes, rice, sugar cane, pecans, soybeans, corn, and cotton. Leading manufactured items include chemicals, processed food, petroleum and coal products, paper, lumber and wood products, transportation equipment, and apparel.
Louisana's New Orleans is the major tourism draw, known particularly for its picturesque French Quarter and the annual Mardi Gras celebration, held since 1838.

Louis Armstrong ,Geoffrey Beene , Truman Capote , Kitty Carlisle , Van Cliburn , Michael De Bakey , Fats Domino , Donna Douglas , Louis Moreau Gottschalk , Bryant Gumbel , Lillian Hellman , Al Hirt , Mahalia Jackson , Jean Laffite , Dorothy Lamour , John A. Lejeune , Elmore Leonard , Jerry Lee Lewis , Huey P. Long , Wynton Marsalis , Jelly Roll Morton , Huey Newton , Marguerite Piazza , Paul Prudhomme , Howard K. Smith , Ben Turpin , Ray Walston , Edward Douglas White