1. In 1861, Louisiana seceded from the United States and joined the Confederacy. April 12 marked the beginning of the American Civil War when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

2. In 1927, the Great Mississippi Flood reached its peak in Louisiana, causing widespread devastation and displacement. Over 250 people were killed, and hundreds of thousands were forced to flee their homes.

3. On April 12, 1935, Huey Long, Louisiana's charismatic and controversial governor, announced his candidacy for president of the United States. Long was assassinated later that year in Baton Rouge.

4. In 1976, New Orleans celebrated its bicentennial with a massive parade down Canal Street. The event featured jazz bands, Mardi Gras floats, and dozens of local celebrities.

5. In 2016, Louisiana was hit by severe floods that caused billions of dollars in damage and claimed the lives of 13 people. The historic flooding was caused by heavy rainfall and inadequate infrastructure.