True Tales from the Pelican State-from the longest Civil War battle to one of history's worst man-made disasters Louisiana is well known for its spicy gumbo, Cajun music, and horrific hurricanes, but few may know why Tarzan once swung through the piney woods, how an entrepreneur used a land auction to build a town in a day, or how one man's vision drew thousands of miracle-seekers to an empty field for over twenty years. It Happened in Louisiana goes behind the scenes to tell these stories and many more, in short episodes that reveal the intriguing people and events that have shaped the Pelican State. *Discover how a well-drilling job gone awry turned an entire freshwater lake into a 1,300-foot-deep saltwater pit-and temporarily created the state's tallest waterfall-in a matter of 48 hours. *Relive the night that a life-changing performance finally put a world-famous rock 'n' roll legend on the path to fame. *Learn the many disturbing reasons that one Louisiana prison-which today has its own radio station and annually hosts the longest-running prison rodeo in the United States-was once named the "worst prison in America." *Read about a determined, compassionate doctor from New Orleans who created a place of refuge and healing in his attempt to cure societal castaways who suffered from "the illness you do not talk about." Bonnye Stuart is a tenth-generation New Orleanian who got her B.A. at Louisiana State University and her M.A. from the University of New Orleans. She is the author of It Happened in New Orleans, More than Petticoats: Remarkable Louisiana Women, and Louisiana Curiosities (all Globe Pequot Press) and Discovering Vintage New Orleans and Haunted New Orleans (both Rowman & Littlefield) and she lives in Tega Cay, SC.

Your round-trip ticket to the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Pelican State has to offer!Whether you're a born-and-raised Louisianan, a recent transplant, or just passing through, Louisiana Curiosities will have you laughing out loud as Louisiana native Bonnye Stuart takes you on a rollicking tour of the strangest sites in the Pelican State. Track down some serious fun, from watching lawnmower racing and petting live alligators to attending a prison rodeo and dancing at a powwow. Feast your way through festivals that celebrate the state's cultural diversity and local crops, from fiery Cajun gumbo to sweet mayhaw jelly-and stop in at the local wineries and microbreweries to quench your thirst.Learn about the darker side of Louisiana as you tour haunted plantations, mysterious mansions, and spooky cemeteries.

From the Mardi Gras celebrations to the disasters of Hurricane Katrina, the city of New Orleans is filled with ghosts, mysteries, and spooky happenings. Anyone who picks up Haunted New Orleans is sure to get goose bumps.

From the earliest days of French and Spanish rule to school integration in the 1960s, It Happened in New Orleans offers a unique look at intriguing people and episodes from the history of the Crescent City. March along with Creole Wild West during their first Mardi Gras. Experience the ten heady days of the longest woman-suffrage convention ever held. And discover a lovingly restored mausoleum where great New Orleans musicians are laid to rest.Meet the voodoo queen, a baroness, a pirate and many more real-life characters who helped make New Orleans the famous city it is today.What happens when the mighty Mississippi River overflows its banks and changes directions? What college began with gambling money? Find the answers to these questions and more in It Happened in New Orleans.