Baton Rouge, LA
Baton Rouge’s history dates back thousands of years. Archaeological discoveries indicate early human settlements along the Mississippi, Comite and Amite Rivers. However, modern history didn’t begin until around 1698 when a French explorer led an expedition up the Mississippi River.
Covington, LA
Covington is a smaller city, but its history is just as colorful as that of nearby metropolitan areas. The earliest records of European settlement date back to the 1800s, during the British West Florida period. New Orleans merchant John Wharton Collins established a town in current-day Covington called “Wharton.”
Lafayette, LA
Lafayette’s recorded history begins in the 18th century. French colonists ventured into the area to establish a trading post upon the Vermilion River. By the end of the 18th century, Acadian refugees settled in the area, eventually founding the city of Vermilionville in 1821. By 1836, the Louisiana ..
Metairie, LA
The first French settlers arrived in Metairie around the 1720s. Settlers chose an area then called “Tchoupitoulas.” Now called the Metairie Ridge, the area is a natural levee formed by an ancient branch of the Mississippi River. By the 1760s, most of the French farmers were tenants.
New Orleans, LA
The vibrant, colorful and diverse culture of New Orleans goes back centuries. In 1717, John’s Law Company of the West decided in Paris to create a settlement in the Louisiana territory. Dubbed “Nouvelle-Orléans,” brush clearing began in 1718. Engineer Adrien de Pauger developed the town’s plans..