1. On February 4, 1812, Louisiana became the 18th state in the United States. It was previously a territory under Spanish and French rule before becoming a state.

2. In 1861, the Louisiana state convention voted to secede from the United States, joining the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

3. On February 4, 1899, the state of Louisiana purchased the Louisiana State Lottery Company for $40 million. The lottery had been a controversial issue in the state, and its purchase marked the end of legal lotteries in the United States until the 1960s.

4. In 1937, the Huey P. Long Bridge opened in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The bridge spans the Mississippi River and is one of the longest cantilever bridges in the United States.

5. On February 4, 1998, the Cajun Navy was founded in Louisiana. The volunteer organization consists of private boat owners who assist in search and rescue efforts during natural disasters, such as hurricanes and floods. The group gained national attention for their efforts during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.