March 26 marks an important day in the history of Louisiana. From natural disasters to political events, several significant incidents have occurred on this day. Here are five interesting facts about March 26 in Louisiana history:

1. In 1917, Louisiana was hit by one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in US history. Over 200 people were killed, and thousands were injured or left homeless. The tornadoes struck multiple cities, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport.

2. In 1975, the Louisiana state government designated the nutria as the official state fur-bearing animal. Nutria are large, semiaquatic rodents that are native to South America but were introduced to Louisiana in the early 20th century for their fur.

3. In 1804, the Louisiana Purchase Treaty was signed in Paris, France, which effectively doubled the size of the United States. The Louisiana Territory encompassed present-day Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and parts of Minnesota.

4. On March 26, 2003, the first case of a human infected with West Nile virus was reported in Louisiana. The virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can cause flu-like symptoms and, in severe cases, encephalitis or meningitis.

5. In 1970, the Louisiana state legislature passed a law that prohibited the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18. This was one of the earliest laws in the US to raise the minimum age for tobacco purchases.