1. In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was finalized, which brought Louisiana under United States control. This acquisition doubled the size of the United States and brought a new era of growth and development to Louisiana.

2. On November 17, 1869, the Louisiana State University was founded in Baton Rouge. Today, it's one of the largest universities in Louisiana and one of the leading research institutions in the United States.

3. The Battle of Bayou Bourbeau, also known as The Battle of Grand Coteau, was fought on November 17, 1863. It was part of the Red River Campaign during the American Civil War.

4. On November 17, 1871, Louisiana became the first state in the United States to have an African American lieutenant governor, Oscar J. Dunn. He was also the first African American to hold statewide office in any state.

5. In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first African American student to integrate a public school in the Deep South. On November 17 of that year, she began attending William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her courage and perseverance inspired many and helped pave the way for desegregation of schools across the nation.