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Discovery of Louisiana by De la Salle.
Louisiana began as a French colony claimed in the name of Louis XIV by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, in 1682 when he reached the mouth of the Mississippi River. -
New-Orleans is founded.
The city of New Orleans is founded by the French as La Nouvelle-Orléans. It was named after Philip II, Duke of Orléans, the king of France at the time. -
New-Orleans, capitol of Louisiana.
The capitol of Louisiana was Mobile in 1682, moved to Biloxi in 1699, then settled in New-Orleans in 1722. -
France cedes New-Orleans to Spain.
It is said that in 1762, King Louis XV of France lost a wager to his cousin King Charles III of Spain, and thus the whole Louisiana territory became a Spanish possession (Treaty of Fontainebleau and the Treaty of Paris ). -
The Great New Orleans Fire (I)
The Great Fire destroys many of the French-built structures in the original French Quarter of the city. -
The Great New-Orleans Fire (II)
A second fire destroys much of the remaining French architecture. The Spanish rebuild the French quarter using Spanish colonial architecture. -
Right of Deposit.
The United States is granted "Right of Deposit" in New Orleans, allowing them to use the city's port facilities. -
Louisiana becomes French again.
Louisiana reverts back to French control after Napoleon regains the territory under a treaty agreement with Spain. -
Louisiana Purchase
Napoleon sells the Louisiana territory to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase.
