Louisiana's Bicentennial

Louisiana's statehood celebration of 200 years in the making includes events across the state to bring out the best of the most unique cultural blends in the United States. (Scroll down for a list of events).

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 festive Catholic traditions such as Mardi Gras. As Louisiana commemorates this important bicentennial event, we can also celebrate the distinct Cajun and Creole American culture that U.S. statehood has fostered.

The Louisiana State Archives is sponsoring a bicentennial quilt entitled Stitch by Stitch, Binding Together 200 years of Louisiana History. Each square on the quilt will reflect each parish's unique features such as natural resources, events or locations. Calcasieu's design is centered around our symbolic and colorful logo. The quilt square is made of four layers of fabric, and each layer was individually basted, appliquéd and hand sewn with "invisible" thread, and Dynette Rae Lee Cooley and Lynette Monteith worked for approximately 18 hours on the quilt square. The quilt will be unveiled this April during a month long celebration of Louisiana's 200th birthday. It will be housed at the Louisiana State Archives and then will go on tour through the Parishes.

The downtown Lake Charles historic district will see the addition of its newest public art mural on the side of the locally-owned dessert shop Sweets & Treats. Local artist Fred Stark, whose murals appear in sixteen states, will create a large scale Bicentennial-themed mural to illustrate our Southwest Louisiana connection to the state's 200 year legacy. Composed in three different layers and timelines, the mural will show the visual history of Louisiana from 1812 to 2012 and will include our local ties with the 100 year anniversaries of four local historic landmarks. Stark, who is owner of Fred Stark Design & Illustration, is best known for his work with the Lake Charles Civic Ballet as a scenic artist.

Several Lake Charles's landmarks are also celebrating their 100th anniversaries in 2012. Click here for more information. Or, click here to learn more about the 1911 Historic City Hall which celebrated it's centennial anniversary in 2011. 

Bicentennial Celebrations happening in Southwest Louisiana:

Margaret Place Centennial Celebrations
March 31-April 1
Margaret Place Historic District/Lake Charles
www.calcasieupreservation.org
Click here for more event details.

Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival
April 12-15
Lake Charles Civic Center
www.dtcrawfishfest.com
Click here for more event details. 

Louisiana Railroad Days Festival
April 12-14 DeQuincy Railroad Museum
Click here for more event details.

Springfest & Civil War Re-enactment
April 20-21
Niblett's Bluff Park/Vinton
Click here for more event details. 

Historic Buildings Centennial Celebrations
April 28
Downtown Lake Charles
Click here for more event details. 

The Faces and Places of Louisiana, Reading by Poet Laureate of Louisiana Julie Kane
May 12
Imperial Calcasieu Museum/Lake Charles
Click here for more event details. 

Sulphur Heritage Festival
May 25-26
Heritage Square/Sulphur
www.brimstonemuseum.org
Click here for more event details.

Downtown at Sundown
May 18, 25 and June 1, 8
Downtown Lake Charles
Click here for more event details. 

200 Years - The Faces and Places of Louisiana By Louisiana Artist Laureate George Rodrigue Exhibition
September 9-14
Imperial Calcasieu Museum/Lake Charles
Click here fore more event details.

For a complete list of all Bicentennial events happening in Louisiana please visit www.louisianabicentennial2012.com.