1. On May 8, 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto became the first European to reach the Mississippi River in what is now Louisiana.

2. May 8, 1862, marked the beginning of the Battle of Port Gibson, a major Confederate defeat during the Civil War. The battle was part of Union General Ulysses S. Grant's campaign to capture Vicksburg and gain control of the Mississippi River.

3. Louisiana became the 18th state to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote, on May 8, 1970. This ratification came more than 50 years after the amendment was originally adopted in 1920.

4. On May 8, 1958, a tornado outbreak struck northern Louisiana, killing 32 people and injuring more than 200 others. The tornadoes caused widespread damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure in the area.

5. Louisiana native and NFL quarterback Peyton Manning announced his retirement from football on May 8, 2016. Manning played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos during his storied career, and is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.