Destination Hunter Home >

Over millennia, the Mississippi River carried layers of sediment downstream to form a vast delta, with swamps, bayous and natural levees. Much of this region became Louisiana, home to a unique American culture. There, Spanish, French and African-American food, music and language combined to create a distinctive way of life.

New Orleans, often called the Crescent City, sits on a bend in the Mississippi, and its fortunes and tragedies have forever been tied to the river. A vital hub of trade with one of the busiest ports in the country, the city surrounded by water has also suffered terrible floods.

Though New Orleans was devastated in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, its historic French Quarter came through mostly unscathed, and other parts of the city are being reconstructed, some with the help of volunteers from around the country. Through everything, Louisiana remains a extraordinary place.

Advertisement


Follow Us

AT THE SMITHSONIAN
Scenes and Sightings from the Museums

  • Around the Mall
  • Visitor's Guide

Two Cheetah Cubs, Rescued from the Brink of Death, Arrive at the National Zoo

After a risky caesarean section and intensive care, two cheetah cubs have been nursed back to health...
By Joseph Stromberg

Capturing the Moment: A Rainbow this Morning on The National Mall

Smithsonian Institution staff photographer Eric Long captured the moment this morning on his way to ...
By Beth Py-Lieberman

Events May 22-24: Shade-Grown Coffee, Public Observatory Project, and Tot Rock

This week, try a cup of organic shade-grown coffee, see spots on the sun, and bring your toddlers to...
By Aviva Shen

Smithsonian Store

Smithsonian Journeys

Advertisement