1. In 1813, the first steamboat in Louisiana, the Orleans, made its maiden voyage from New Orleans to Louisville, Kentucky. This paved the way for significant advancements in transportation and trade throughout the state.

2. On April 13, 1866, a race riot erupted in New Orleans when white supremacists attacked African American Union soldiers and civilians. The violence resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries and highlighted the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality in Louisiana.

3. In 1926, Huey P. Long, future Governor and Senator of Louisiana, was appointed as the youngest railroad commissioner in state history at the age of 32. Long's political career would later revolutionize Louisiana politics and economic development.

4. On this day in 1960, the first Freedom Ride bus arrived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as part of a civil rights movement protesting segregated public transportation. The movement gained national attention and ultimately led to the desegregation of buses and transportation facilities throughout the nation.

5. In 1997, Louisiana's first female Governor, Kathleen Blanco, was inaugurated. Blanco's historic election marked a significant turning point for women in Louisiana politics and opened doors for future female leaders in the state.