Symbol | Official Item

Louisiana designated gumbo as the official state cuisine in 2004. All State Foods

The crawfish was designated the official state crustacean of Louisiana in 1983. South Louisiana is the crawfish capital of the world. Also called crayfish, mudbugs or crawdads, the crawfish resembles a very small lobster. Coloring varies depending on the water it lives in. There are more than 500 species of crawfish (Procambarus clarkii); over half live in North America. In Louisiana, two species are harvested: the red swamp and the white river crawfish.

Louisiana designated blue, white, and gold as the official state colors in 1972. These colors dominate the state flag, seal, and the official state painting.

The Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science was designated as the official state museum of natural history in 1999. 

The mission of the LSU Museum of Natural Science is acquisition, preservation, and study of research collections by Museum faculty, staff, and students to generate knowledge of regional and global biodiversity, geological history, and human history and prehistory for the benefit of the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

Louisiana designated mayhaw jelly and Louisiana sugar cane jelly as official state jellies in 2003. All State Foods

"Homemade Mayhaw and Plum Jelly" is also on the menu of the official state meal of North Louisiana.

The Catahoula leopard dog was designated the official state dog of Louisiana in 1979. Catahoula leopard dogs are bred to find livestock in any terrain - swamps, canyons, forests, or mountains - largest and most aggressive of the cattle dogs, they can handle wild cattle and hogs in the roughest country. Leopard dogs are the only native domesticated North American breed of dog - developed by Indians and early settlers. 

"Louisiana" was designated the official painting for the state of Louisiana in 1995. The original painting hangs at the State Capitol, and a copy is displayed at the Governor's mansion. This painting was a 10 year collaborative effort between a father and son team of artists (Johnny O. Bell and Johnny F. Bell). "Louisiana" contains a representation for all official symbols and commonly accepted icons of Louisiana, and the painting is dominated by the state colors of gold, white and blue.

The diatonic acccordian was designated the official musical instrument of Louisiana in 1990. The diatonic accordion (also called a "squeeze box" or "Cajun accordion") arrived in Louisiana from Germany in the mid to late 1890's and by the early 1900's had become a key element in Cajun music.

Although small, the Cajun accordion has more sound power and volume than a piano key accordion, but less range (diatonic means: "of or using only the eight tones of a standard major or minor scale without chromatic variations").

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) was designated the state reptile of Louisiana in 1983. All State Reptiles

The word "alligator" comes from the Spanish "el lagarto" (the lizard). Native to the southeastern United States, alligators construct burrows, or "alligator holes" for shelter and hibernation.

The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) was designated the official state bird of Louisiana in 1966. Early European settlers were impressed with the pelican's generous and nurturing attitude toward their young, and the brown pelican has been a symbol of Louisiana since that time. All State Birds