25 Interesting Louisiana Facts

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published May 21, 2022

Famous people from Louisiana include Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Reese Witherspoon, and Britney Spears._[4]
The official drink of Louisiana is milk._[4]
Louisiana's state capital is Baton Rouge, which means "red post." Explorer Pierre Le Moyne spotted a post made from a bloodied Louisiana cypress tree that marked the boundary between two American Indian tribes._[4]
The state reptile of Louisiana is the American alligator, which has survived since the time of the dinosaurs._[4]
Louisiana is famous for Creole food, which is a blend of French, Spanish, and African cuisines. One of the most famous Creole dishes is gumbo._[4]

Oak Valley Plantation has starred in several movies, including Interview with the Vampire

The Oak Alley Plantation is one of the most photographed plantations in Louisiana. It's named for the oak trees that line the path to the house._[4]
Louisiana's fishing industry makes up about 1/4 of all the seafood caught in the United States._[4]
Each year, Louisiana produces enough gasoline to fill 800 million automobile gas tanks._[4]
The oldest cathedral in the United States is the St. Louis Cathedral, which was built in St. Louis in 1718._[4]
New Orleans is often called "The Big Easy" because of its reputation for being easygoing._[4]
The longest boxing match in history took place in New Orleans in 1893. It lasted 110 rounds, for a total of 7 hours and 19 minutes. The match ended in a tie._[4]
Louisiana is nicknamed the Pelican State because of the pelicans that live along the Gulf Coast._[4]

The brown pelican is Louisiana's state bird, and it appears on the state flag, great seal, and the official state painting

Lake Pontchartrain is Louisiana's largest lake. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway runs almost 24 miles (38 km) across the lake, making it the world's longest bridge over water._[4]
New Orleans is considered to be one of the most haunted cities in the United States because it has suffered through so many tragedies, such as fires, hurricanes, yellow fever, and violence._[4]
New Orleans has hosted the Super Bowl ten times, which is more than any other city except Miami._[4]
The St. Charles Streetcar line in New Orleans is the oldest continuously operated streetcar in the world._[3]
The biggest party in Louisiana is Mardi Gras. In French, Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday," which is from the tradition of using all the fats in the home before Lent, in preparation for fasting._[4]
The Louisiana Territory was named for King Louis XIV. In French, La Louisiane means "Land of Louis."_[3]

Nicholas Cage's tomb is inscribed with the Latin words omnia ab uno, which means “Everything from One"

Nicholas Cage has already purchased his burial spot in New Orleans. It's a tomb in the shape of a pyramid._[2]
Rayne, Louisiana, has an annual Frog Festival that includes a pageant, jumping competitions for frogs, and lots of frog legs to eat._[4]
Louisiana's state bird is the brown pelican._[4]
Louisiana is the birthplace of jazz._[3]
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated several parts of Louisiana. It eroded 73 square miles of Louisiana coastline and killed approximately 1,500 Louisianans._[1]
Famous movies filmed in Louisiana include A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Tarzan of the Apes (1918), Steel Magnolias (1989), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Easy Rider (1969), and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). The television series Duck Dynasty (2012-2017) was also filmed in Louisiana._[2]
Every year, Louisiana hosts a 3-day mud festival called the Louisiana Mudfest. In one of the most epic parties in Louisiana, partygoers gather to drive trucks, Quads, Jeeps, and other custom 4X4 machines in the mud._[3]