1. Louisiana became a state on April 30, 1812, but on April 1, 1812, the Louisiana Purchase Treaty took effect, officially transferring the territory from France to the United States. This event paved the way for the eventual statehood of Louisiana.

2. In 1864, during the Civil War, Union forces led by General Nathaniel Banks captured the Confederate stronghold of Fort DeRussy in Louisiana on April 1. The victory was significant because it allowed Union forces to move further up the Red River towards Shreveport.

3. On April 1, 1896, the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the state's segregation laws. The decision helped to solidify the Jim Crow laws that were in place throughout the South and led to the disenfranchisement of many African Americans.

4. In 1907, the first Louisiana Derby horse race was held at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. The race has grown in popularity over the years and is now considered one of the premier horse races in the country.

5. On April 1, 1936, the Huey P. Long Bridge opened in Louisiana. The bridge spans the Mississippi River and connects the cities of Baton Rouge and Port Allen. At the time of its opening, it was the longest cantilever bridge in the world and remains an iconic landmark in Louisiana today.