In downtown Gibsland, Louisiana, on 1st Street—right near City Hall—sits a small abandoned gas station. A concrete porte-cochère (which is a grand doorway to a building or courtyard) features three old gas pumps with long-gone prices. A small store area and garage stand silent in the background. A plaque pinpoints where a pay phone used to hang. That plaque represents …
History of Louisiana’s State Bird: The Brown Pelican
With over 7,700 miles of shoreline, it’s no surprise that a seabird was chosen as Louisiana’s state bird. We’ve celebrated the brown pelican as our state bird since July 27, 1966. Louisiana’s even known as the Pelican State. Our brown pelicans are both majestic and distinctive, and Louisiana’s state bird is beloved by many for so many reasons. Louisiana’s State …
Right and Wrong Ways to Use a Credit Card
A credit card is a powerful financial tool that is easily available to most people. When used properly, they can help build your credit score, while also offering the convenience of making purchases online or in just about any store. However, if used improperly, a credit card can cause you serious problems. These include overspending, amassing large debts, and hurting …
Spotlight On: Monroe Housing Authority
Growing up in Monroe, Louisiana, has not always been easy for me. My sister and I were raised by a single mother. Living in income-based housing helped relieve some of our financial burdens. It also helped guide us toward our successes today. My family and I are one of thousands of individuals that have been positively impacted by our Pelican …
How Crawfish Became a Louisiana Staple
Louisiana’s unique cuisine is world famous, but there’s one dish that’s most strongly identified with the state – the Louisiana Crawfish. Crawfish have always been abundant in Louisiana and actually live on every continent except Antarctica. Native Americans who originally lived in the state ate crawfish by catching them using reeds baited with deer meat. So how did the humble …
How to Make the Most of Leftover Boiled Crawfish (Shells and All)
Crawfish boils are one of Louisiana’s most cherished culinary traditions. You sit down with family and friends and dive into a huge mound of spicy mudbugs with all the fixins–potatoes, corn on the cob, mushrooms, and more. But when you’re done eating, you look down and realize you’ve got tons of crawfish and fixings left over. What to do? Here …