1. On May 26, 1864, the Battle of Mansura took place in Central Louisiana during the American Civil War. Union forces led by General A.J. Smith defeated a Confederate force led by General Richard Taylor.
2. The Louisiana World Exposition, also known as the New Orleans World's Fair, officially opened on May 26, 1984. The fair celebrated the 100th anniversary of the city's previous world's fair and attracted over 7 million visitors.
3. The movie "Steel Magnolias," which was set and filmed in Natchitoches, Louisiana, was released on May 26, 1989. The film starred Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts.
4. On May 26, 2001, Louisiana State University's baseball team played their final game at Alex Box Stadium before it was demolished and rebuilt as the present-day stadium. LSU defeated South Alabama 10-3 in the game.
5. The Louisiana Purchase was completed on May 26, 1804, when the United States acquired control of the territory from France. The purchase added over 800,000 square miles to the United States, doubling its size at the time.