1. In 1868, the Louisiana State Lottery Company was authorized to operate, making it the first legal lottery in the United States. The lottery was a major source of revenue for the state until it was shut down in 1894.

2. On July 29, 1915, a hurricane struck the Louisiana coast, causing extensive damage and loss of life. It was one of the worst hurricanes to hit the state in the 20th century.

3. In 1957, the Baton Rouge bus boycott began. Inspired by the Montgomery bus boycott led by Martin Luther King Jr., African American residents of Baton Rouge protested segregated busses and called for desegregation of public transportation.

4. On July 29, 1970, the first Gulf of Mexico oil spill occurred when an offshore drilling rig, owned by Shell Oil, experienced a blowout and released thousands of gallons of oil into the water. The incident sparked increased regulation of offshore oil drilling.

5. In 2018, Louisiana celebrated the tricentennial of its founding. On July 29 of that year, a reenactment of the founding ceremony was held in New Orleans, complete with original documents from 1718.