1. In 1682, French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, also known as La Salle, claimed the Mississippi River and all the lands drained by it, including the future state of Louisiana, for France. This event marked the beginning of French colonization in Louisiana.

2. On April 4, 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in the Louisiana Purchase. This massive land acquisition more than doubled the size of the United States and paved the way for westward expansion.

3. In 1812, Louisiana became the 18th state to join the Union. The state had previously been part of the Louisiana Territory and was initially named the Territory of Orleans.

4. On April 4, 1960, the first McDonald's restaurant in Louisiana opened in New Orleans. The fast-food chain quickly became popular across the state, and now there are over 230 McDonald's locations in Louisiana.

5. On April 4, 2017, Baton Rouge civil rights activist Sadie Roberts-Joseph founded the Museum of African American History in Baton Rouge. Roberts-Joseph worked tirelessly to preserve the history and culture of African Americans in Louisiana and was tragically murdered in 2019. Her legacy lives on at the museum, which continues to educate visitors about the contributions and struggles of African Americans in Louisiana.