1. On December 22, 1803, the United States officially took possession of the Louisiana Territory from France, doubling the size of the country overnight.

2. On December 22, 1931, Avoyelles Parish native Huey P. Long was sworn in as the 40th governor of Louisiana. Long went on to serve as a U.S. senator and was a vocal supporter of the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

3. On December 22, 1958, the first commercial jet passenger service in the United States began operation at New Orleans International Airport. The Delta Air Lines flight traveled from New Orleans to Dallas, Texas.

4. On December 22, 1990, the Louisiana Superdome hosted the final regular season game of the New Orleans Saints' 1990 season. The game featured the Saints facing off against the Los Angeles Rams and ended in a 20-17 victory for the Saints.

5. On December 22, 2005, Hurricane Katrina victim and New Orleans native Fats Domino returned to his hometown after being evacuated to Baton Rouge during the storm. Domino's home was heavily damaged in the hurricane, but he recorded a new album in 2006 and continued to perform until his death in 2017.