1. In 1805, the Louisiana Territory was divided into two territories: the Territory of Orleans and the District of Louisiana. This division eventually led to Louisiana's statehood in 1812.
2. On March 31, 1865, the Confederate government of Louisiana fell and Governor Henry Watkins Allen fled the state, marking the end of the Civil War in Louisiana.
3. March 31, 1873 marked the establishment of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, originally named the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute.
4. In 1917, the first United States Army base in Louisiana was established in Shreveport. Camp Beauregard would serve as a training ground for soldiers during both World War I and World War II.
5. On March 31, 2017, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, celebrated its 50th anniversary of being renamed from the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola to its current name. The prison is notorious for its history of violence and harsh living conditions, but has also been recognized for its rehabilitation programs.