1. In 1812, Louisiana became the 18th state to join the Union. After years of being a part of Spanish and French colonies, Louisiana was finally able to establish itself as a state in the United States.

2. In 1868, the Constitutional Convention that was held in Louisiana, created a new state constitution that was adopted by the people on January 14th of the same year. This constitution abolished slavery and established universal suffrage regardless of race or gender.

3. In 1899, the capital of Louisiana was moved from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. The move was done to promote the development of the state's interior, and to distance the capital from the corrupt political machine that dominated New Orleans city politics at the time.

4. In 1937, the Huey Long Bridge was opened in Baton Rouge. The bridge, named after the controversial Louisiana Governor Huey Long, is a major transportation artery for the state and is still in use today.

5. In 2010, it was announced that Louisiana would receive $100 million from BP to aid in the recovery of the state after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This money was used to boost the state's tourism industry and to help restore natural habitats affected by the spill.