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The history of the area that is now the U.S. state of Louisiana, can be traced back thousands of years to when it was occupied by indigenous peoples. The first indications of permanent settlement, ushering in the Archaic period , appear about 5,500 years ago.
- Louisiana Native American History. When the first French colonists arrived in the area now known as Louisiana in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the land had already been settled for more than 10,000 years by Native Americans.
- Louisiana Exploration and Colonial History. Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto was the first European to visit Louisiana during his 1541 expedition down the Mississippi River.
- The Louisiana Purchase and Statehood. The Louisiana Purchase was the conclusion of a decades-long struggle between France, England and Spain for control over North American territory—particularly around the Mississippi River, which enabled trade throughout much of the continent.
- Slavery. Slaves have been a part of Louisiana’s history since the French colony was established. Given its location at the mouth of the Mississippi River, New Orleans eventually became the largest and most significant slave-trading center in the United States during the 19th century.
5 days ago · Admitted to the union in 1812 as the 18th state, Louisiana commands a once strategically vital region where the waters of the great Mississippi-Missouri river system, draining the continental interior of North America, flow out into the warm, northward-curving crescent of the Gulf of Mexico.
The St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans is built, the oldest in the United States. 1723. New Orleans becomes the capital of Louisiana, superseding Biloxi. 1735. Jean Louis, a sailor, leaves his savings to establish the first charity hospital in New Orleans. 1751.
Louisiana is situated at the confluence of the Mississippi river system and the Gulf of Mexico. Its location and biodiversity attracted various indigenous groups thousands of years before Europeans arrived in the 17th century.
- 51,840 sq mi (134,264 km²)
- 5 Republicans, 1 Democrat (list)
The Louisiana Historical Association promotes excellence in scholarship, teaching, and dissemination of research in all areas of Louisiana history, encourages study and teaching of other areas of history, fosters inclusion of all practitioners of history, and advocates for the responsible stewardship of all cultural resources.
HISTORY. How the Louisiana Purchase Changed the World. When Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, he altered the shape of a nation and the course of history....
