10 Amazing Inventions Louisiana Has Given to the World
As we all know, Louisianians are are problem solvers. We don't sit back and wait for anyone to find solutions, we find those solutions on our own. In the process, we've come up with quite a few interesting things, delicious foods, and inventions that have made this country a better place. Don't believe me? I have two words for you; Fried Turkey. Oh, and Louisiana is why the U.S. won WWII.
There are many, many great contributions Louisiana has made to the rest of the world, and below is the tip of the iceberg. Some of these are obvious, but hopefully some of these you didn't know about.
- Dave Thompson - WPA Pool /Getty Images
Dave Thompson - WPA Pool /Getty Images 1Binocular Microscope
Did you know the binocular microscope was invented right here in Louisiana? John Riddell from Tulane University gets credit for inventing the binocular microscope in 1852 and changing the scientific community forever.
- Pfc. Dalton Precht via commons.wikimedia.org
Pfc. Dalton Precht via commons.wikimedia.org 2Craps
The next time you ease up to the craps table to let the big bucks ride, you can thank Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville. He gets credit for inventing the dice game in New Orleans.
- Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images 3Fried Turkey
If it's delicious, chances are it came from Louisiana. We were the first people brave enough to dump a big fat turkey into a boiling pot of hot grease, and the world has been following in our footsteps ever since. Legend has it that the fried turkey started in Church Point.
- Courtesy Sazerac gift shop
Courtesy Sazerac gift shop 4Sazerac
New Orleans is home to America’s very first cocktail, the Sazerac, invented by Antoine Amadie Peychaud.
- Tony Chachere's via Facebook
Tony Chachere's via Facebook 5Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
In Louisiana, we just call it "Tony's" and you'll be hard-pressed to find a home in South Louisiana that doesn't have it. Created in 1972 by Tony Chachere, it has made its way from Lombard Street in Opelousas to the rest of the world.
- Smoothie King via Facebook
Smoothie King via Facebook 6Smoothie King
Every time the rest of the U.S. sips on a delicious Smoothie King smoothie they have Louisianian Steve Kuhnau to thank for it. In 1973, Kuhnau created “The Smoothie Bar” in New Orleans as an answer to poor nutrition, health conditions, and food allergies.
- MCSN David Finley via commons.wikimedia.org
MCSN David Finley via commons.wikimedia.org 7Poker
I had no idea that poker started right here in Louisiana. Poker was developed and spread by Mississippi riverboats around Louisiana in the 1800s, and is now pretty much the most popular card game on Earth. Hey world, you're welcome.
- commons.wikimedia.org
commons.wikimedia.org 8The Higgins Boat
Basically, Louisiana won World War II. More specifically, the Higgins Boat invented by Andrew Higgins in New Orleans won World War II. Dwight Eisenhower is quoted as saying "Andrew Higgins is the man who won the war for us". Have you ever wondered why the WWII Museum is in New Orleans? Mr. Higgins is why.
- KMDL Staff Photo
KMDL Staff Photo 9Venetian Blinds
You know how you turn that lil' stick on your blinds and change the angle of the slats to open and close them? New Orleanian John Hampson is who we have to thank for this.
- Raising Cane's, Facebook
Raising Cane's, Facebook 10Raising Cane's
Todd Graves opened the very first Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Restaurant in Baton Rouge at the intersection of Highland Road and State Street in 1996. The second restaurant opened right here in Lafayette. Now, you can find those insanely good chicken fingers in 22 other states.