1. In 1843, the first steamship to navigate the Red River, the Enterprise, arrived in Shreveport. This was a monumental event for Louisiana's transportation infrastructure, as it allowed for more efficient transportation of goods and people.

2. On May 19, 1861, the Louisiana State Convention voted to secede from the United States and join the Confederacy. This decision had a significant impact on the Civil War and the state's history.

3. In 1896, Plessy v. Ferguson, a landmark Supreme Court case that upheld segregation in public facilities, originated in Louisiana. This case had long-lasting effects on the country's racial policies and civil rights movement.

4. On May 19, 1934, the famous Louisiana governor and senator Huey P. Long unveiled his "Share Our Wealth" plan, which aimed to redistribute the country's wealth and provide a minimum income for every citizen. Long's ideas were controversial, but he remains a prominent figure in Louisiana's political history.

5. In 2012, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law the Louisiana Science Education Act, a contentious piece of legislation that allows teachers to introduce alternative theories, including creationism, in science classrooms. The law has been met with criticism and controversy.