1. In 1803, the Louisiana Territory was officially transferred from Spain to the United States, as part of the Louisiana Purchase. This landmark event solidified America's claim to over 828,000 square miles of land, including much of present-day Louisiana.

2. On July 15, 1870, Admiral David Farragut, a celebrated Civil War hero, died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Farragut was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, but spent much of his adult life serving in the United States Navy and commanding naval forces during key battles of the Civil War, including the Battle of Mobile Bay.

3. The famous Louisiana State Capitol building, located in Baton Rouge, was dedicated on July 15, 1932. Standing at over 450 feet tall, the Capitol is the tallest building in Louisiana and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

4. Jazz legend Jelly Roll Morton was born on July 15, 1890 in New Orleans. Morton was a highly influential pianist, composer, and bandleader who helped define the sound of early jazz music in the United States.

5. On July 15, 1960, Mayor deLesseps "Chep" Morrison of New Orleans was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt. Morrison, who led the city during a period of major civil rights activism and economic growth, survived the attack and went on to serve as a US Ambassador and Congress member before his death in 1964. The identity of the shooter remains unknown.