Symbol | Official Item

Milk was designated the official state drink of Louisiana in 1983. Milk has been called a nearly perfect food - a source of protein, calcium, and several other important nutrients.

Louisiana (La Louisianne) was named by explorer René-Robert Cavelier in the mid 1600's to honor King Louis XIV of France. President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory from Napoleon in 1803 (the original Louisiana territory is now divided between 13 states).

Louisiana's official state motto is "Union, Justice, and Confidence" (prominent on the Louisiana flag and state seal).  Louisiana also recognizes an official state slogan: "Come Fall in Love With Louisiana All Over Again."

The Louisiana black bear was designated the official state mammal of Louisiana in 1992. The US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Louisiana black bear as threatened in 1992. Once common, biologists estimate the current population to be only 3-400 animals. There are 16 recognized subspecies of black bears in North America - black bears living in Louisiana, lower Mississippi, and eastern Texas are designated Ursus americanus luteolus (the Louisiana black bear).

Louisiana designated the honeybee (Apis mallifera) as official state insect in 1977. Bee pollination is critical to plant and human survival - beeswax and honey are just surplus gifts from this tiny wonder of nature. The plant world expends a lot of energy attracting bees and other insects with brilliantly colored flowers and sweet nectar (nectar is produced solely to attract pollinating insects). The honeybee is recognized as an official state symbol in seventeen states, primarilly because honeybees play such an important role in agriculture.

In 1992, Louisiana designated hoop nets, castnets, and shrimp trawls as official symbols of Louisiana Cajun / Creole heritage. Louisiana Creole people descend from colonial settlers of Louisiana (particularly those of French, Spanish, and African descent). 

The Louisiana tartan was officially recognized in 2001. Tartan refers to fabric woven into plaid patterns representing clans (families) or regions in Scotland.

In old Scotland, the tartan was used for clothing and as a banner or flag. Because a family or community worked the cloth together, their clothing was made of the same patterns, and so a person could be recognized by the Tartan plaid that he wore. Tartans can also be designed as a symbol commemorating a special event or person.

Louisiana designated the strawberry as the official state fruit in 1980. All State Foods

More than 300,000 visitors from across the country attend the annual Strawberry Festival in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. The festival promotes local strawberry farmers and nonprofit organizations and includes a parade, festivities, southern food, and Louisiana hospitality.

In 1986, the Louisiana legislature officially designated the beignet (pronounced "ben_yay") as the state doughnut of Louisiana. This was a way to celebrate the state's unique culture and cuisine. Today, beignets can be found at restaurants and cafes throughout Louisiana, and they are a popular souvenir for visitors to the state.

The diminutive but distinctive green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) was designated the official state amphibian of Louisiana in 1993 (also a state symbol of Georgia). All State Amphibians