Visit Lafayette while Louisiana celebrates the 200th anniversary of Louisiana’s attainment of statehood. On April 30, 1812, the United States admitted Louisiana as the 18th state into the Union. Louisiana was the first state to have a majority Catholic French- and Spanish-speaking population, reflecting its origins as a colony under France from 1699-1763 and Spain from 1763-1803.
 

Two hundred years after statehood, Louisiana remains one of the most distinctive states in the union. The state's rich Creole heritage is evident in the use of the Civil Code, the organization of parishes as local political units, and the celebration of Catholic traditions such as Mardi Gras. So as Louisiana commemorates this important bicentennial event, we can also celebrate the distinct Creole-American culture that U.S. statehood has fostered.
 

Lafayette, the heart of French Louisiana, celebrates the Louisiana Bicentennial from October 2011 through December 2012 with festivals, events, performances and more! For information on Bicentennial events statewide, go to LouisianaBicentennial2012.