1. On October 30, 1941, the first oil well in Louisiana was discovered in Jennings. The discovery of the oil well marked the beginning of Louisiana's oil and gas industry, which remains a significant contributor to the state's economy today.

2. In 1912, John Fournet was born in Crowley, Louisiana. Fournet went on to become a highly respected jurist and served as Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court from 1970 to 1980.

3. On October 30, 1873, the steamboat Mary Celeste sank in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. The cause of the sinking remains a mystery to this day.

4. In 1862, Union forces under General Benjamin Butler captured New Orleans, Louisiana, effectively gaining control of the Mississippi River and cutting off Confederate supply lines. The city remained under Union control for the rest of the Civil War.

5. On October 30, 1921, the construction of the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans, Louisiana began. Named after Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long, the bridge spans the Mississippi River and remains an iconic landmark of the city.