1. In 1767, Louisiana was transferred from French to Spanish control by a royal decree that was issued on February 17. This decision was made as part of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the French and Indian War and set the boundaries between France and its former North American possessions.

2. On February 17, 1864, the Union army under General Nathaniel Banks embarked on an ill-fated campaign to capture the Confederate stronghold of Shreveport. Despite initial successes, the campaign ultimately failed, and Banks was forced to retreat to New Orleans.

3. February 17, 1909, marked the birth of Huey P. Long, one of Louisiana's most controversial and influential political figures. Long, who served as governor and later as senator, was known for his populist policies and his "Share Our Wealth" program, which aimed to redistribute wealth and eliminate poverty.

4. On February 17, 1917, the Port of New Orleans played a pivotal role in the shaping of American history. It was here that the SS Deutchland, a German merchant vessel, arrived with a cargo of dyestuffs and medications. The ship is believed to have been carrying a secret cargo of agents and money for German spies in the United States.

5. In 2005, February 17 marked the beginning of an unprecedented disaster for Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region. Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest and costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, made landfall in Louisiana on this day, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The storm flooded much of New Orleans and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom are still recovering from the disaster today.