1. In 1826, the first steamboat to travel the entire length of the Red River arrived in Alexandria, Louisiana. The Commerce, captained by Henry Miller Shreve, had traveled from New Orleans, proving that steamboats could navigate the shallow Red River and opening up new opportunities for trade and commerce in the region.

2. On June 9, 1862, Union troops under General Benjamin F. Butler took possession of New Orleans, marking a significant turning point in the Civil War. The city, which had been an important Confederate port, was captured without a major battle and remained under Union control for the rest of the war.

3. In 1909, Louisiana became the first state in the country to have a designated state bird when Governor Jared Y. Sanders signed a bill naming the Eastern Brown Pelican as the official state bird. The pelican, which can be found throughout Louisiana's wetlands, was chosen for its graceful flight and striking appearance.

4. On June 9, 1910, the first oil well in Louisiana was struck near Jennings, Louisiana. The discovery of oil in the state would bring tremendous wealth and economic growth, transforming Louisiana's economy and shaping its history through the 20th century.

5. In 1948, Louisiana native Harry Truman, then serving as President of the United States, signed the Water Pollution Control Act, the first major federal law aimed at protecting the nation's waterways from pollution. The law, which provided federal funding for water quality research and established regulations for industrial discharges into waterways, helped to lay the foundation for environmental regulation in the United States.