New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans was founded in 1718 by the French Mississippi Company. The city is best known for its French culture, architecture, cuisine, and annual Mardi Gras celebration. For much of its history, it was the nation’s most important port, connecting the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. It was the centerpiece of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, in which New Orleans and all of the Louisiana Territory was purchased from France. The acquisition doubled the size of America. Today, New Orleans is recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the most costly natural disaster in U.S. history. Over 80 percent of the city was flooded and over 1,000 people died.

United States Landmarks