6 Interesting Louisiana Facts You May Not Have Known
Louisiana has a long, notable history. There's a lot that is widely known about our great state. Here's some things that are interesting, that you may not have known.
- 1
The Only Known US Cemetery Facing North To South
Under Christian traditions, people are buried with their feet pointed eastwards to follow the belief that the Second Coming of Jesus would occur from the east. This belief originates from a statement in the book of Matthew.
The town of Rayne, La. was moved 5 miles to the north to be near the railroad (back in the 1800s), and the cemetery was moved, too. They had already laid out most of the graves when the error was discovered, so they just left it.
- 2
State Symbols
You probably know the state bird is an eastern brown pelican, the state dog is the Catahoula Leopard hound, or the state tree is a bald cypress.
What you might not know is the state motto, "Union, Justice, and Confidence." It's written right there on the state flag, hidden in plain site.
There's also the state slogan, ""Come Fall in Love With Louisiana All Over Again."
- 3
A Famous Inhabitant
James "Jim" Bowie, the legendary hero of The Alamo, although born in Kentucky, spent much of his life in Louisiana. More specifically, Opelousas.
In fact, what started his rise to fame was the Sandbar Fight, where he killed the sheriff of Rapides Parish with a large knife.
- 4
Tallest Capitol In The Country
The Louisiana State Capitol has 34 stories and is 450 feet (140 m) tall, making it the tallest capitol in the United States. Currently, it is also the tallest building in Baton Rouge and the seventh tallest in Louisiana.
- 5
Louisiana's Piece In The American Revolution
The Battle of Baton Rouge was fought in 1779, and was the only battle of the American Revolution that wasn't fought in one of the original 13 colonies.
Spain officially entered the war against Britain on May 8, 1779. At the time, the Spanish had control over what became the Louisiana Territory.
After war was declared, Spanish troops, along with 60 local militiamen, 80 free blacks, 10 American volunteers and an irregular force of some 600 Acadians and Indians marched to Baton Rouge, and took Fort New Richmond, which was occupied by 550 British soldiers.
- 6
First Opera In The US
The first opera performed in the United States was in New Orleans.
According to New Orleans Online:
On May 22, 1796, while George Washington was still president and New Orleans was still under Spanish rule, the first documented opera performance was staged here. Since that performance of Ernest Grétry's Sylvain, operas have been staged almost continuously in New Orleans for the past two centuries.