Louis Armstrong, Zulu King

2016 Sunset Report

OLG & DCRT Strategic Plan
2020-21 through 2024-25

Quality - Louisiana State Library
85% of the users of the State Library indicated that the State Library's services and resources was a good value for the State.
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Louisiana's deep water ports

Did you know that Louisiana's five deep water ports handle more than 457 million tons of U.S. waterborne commerce a year?
Quality - Louisiana State Library
85% of the users of the State Library indicated that the State Library's services and resources was a good value for the State.
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Atchafalaya Heritage Area

The Atchafalaya Heritage Area has been designated by Congress as a National Heritage Area.
Impact - DCRT Returns Investment Dollars to Louisiana

For every state tax dollar spent by the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, $5.86 is returned to the State Treasury and citizens of Louisiana.
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Impact - Louisiana Office of Tourism Tops Returns on Investment

$13.90 is the return on investment for every dollar spent by the Office of Tourism. Over 175,000 people were directly employed by the Louisiana travel and tourism industry in 2004. In terms of production, $5.9 billion (3.8%) of Louisiana's Gross State Product was directly attributable to expenditures by visitors to Louisiana
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Impact - Supporting the Louisiana Arts

Every dollar in state support for the Arts leverages $7 in earned and contributed revenue. Louisiana's cultural enterprises provide nearly 144,000 jobs for Louisiana citizens, accounting for 7.6% of total employment. Arts has a total economic impact of $934 million in Louisiana.
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Impact - Visitors Generate State Revenue

In terms of tax revenues, visitor spending accounted for $677 million of 2004 Louisiana revenues, or 8.3% of the total 2004 State Budget.
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Quality - Louisiana State Museums

95% of State Museum's visitors strongly agreed or agreed that the State Museum was an educational experience and has expanded their awareness of Louisiana's cultural history.
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Quality - Historic Preservation and the Arts

78-80% of Louisiana residents believe that historic preservation and arts are important and should be high priorities.
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Impact - Louisiana Serve Program

The Louisiana Serve Program in the Office of Lieutenant Governor returns 2.8 million in non-state revenue to Louisiana.
Impact - Louisiana State Museum

The Office of State Museum returns $6.99 for every tax dollar spent.
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Impact - Louisiana State Parks

Visitor spending at Louisiana State Parks returns $3.23 in state taxes for every dollar spend on operating and maintaining all our beautiful parks. Out-of-state visitors to Louisiana State Parks spent almost $12 million in Louisiana and produced an economic impact of over $24 million. Louisiana residents spent another $29.2 million while visiting the parks.
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Impact - Scenic Byways Program

The Scenic Byways program leverages $1.56 for every dollar spent by the program.
Source: The Impact of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on Louisiana's Economy and Quality of Life for Louisiana's Citizens - June 2006
Louisiana State Parks and the National Register

Thirteen Louisiana State Parks sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. They include:
• Audubon State Historic Site
• Centenary State Historic Site
• Fort Pike State Historic Site
• Fort Jesup State Historic Site
• Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site
• Mansfield State Historic Site
• Marksville State Historic Site
• Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site
• Port Hudson State Historic Site
• Poverty Point State Historic Site
• Otis House at Fairview-Riverside State Park
• Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site
• Winter Quarters State Historic Site
Louisiana State Parks Visitation

Nearly two million people visited a Louisiana State Park last year.
Louisiana State Parks Grow and Renew

The Louisiana Office of State Parks has spent nearly $80 million in major construction projects since 2004, providing two brand-new parks and a new historic site, adding cabins and campsites to existing parks and building visitor center at one park, the preservation area and three historic sites.
Louisiana State Parks Wireless Internet

The Louisiana Office of State Parks provides free wireless internet access at all 20 recreational parks. Extensive coverage areas include most cabins, RV slips and campsites.
Louisiana State Parks Online Reservations

You can now make online reservations for cabins, campsites, lodges and group camps – at www.ReserveLaStateParks.com
Louisiana State Parks Honors National Parks Service Senior Pass Program

Visitors who hold an America the Beautiful Senior or Access Pass, and whose home State Park system honor the America the Beautiful passes for camping discounts, are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. Certain restrictions apply, see State Parks' fees & facilities page for more information.
Louisiana State Parks Draw Media Attention

Louisiana State Parks sites have been featured in movie and television releases including "True Detective," CBS’ "Zoo," and "NCIS: New Orleans," "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," "Selfless," "Devil’s Due," and commercials for Popeyes and Toyota.
Capitol Park Welcome Center

The main meeting room in the Capitol Park Welcome Center is named after Margaret Taylor, wife of U.S. President Zachary Taylor. The couple resided in a small house near the present day location of Capitol Park until Taylor was elected to the Presidency.

Louis Armstrong, Zulu King

Growing up in the New Orleans neighborhood where Zulu began, jazz legend Louis Armstrong had a dream of becoming a member and possibly king. He was named an honorary member in 1931 and saw his boyhood dream of becoming a Zulu king fulfilled in 1949.

Armstrong’s reign was an international media story, and his image as king graced the cover of Time magazine. “Oh we had a ball at City Hall,” Armstrong later wrote “[Mayor Chep Morrison’s] office was packed and jammed with the press – his friends and my friends, and I’m telling you . . . we really did pitch a boogie woogie.”

The day also had a lasting impact. The club has honored Satchmo’s place in Zulu history a many times through a doubloon, souvenir booklet, and a poster. One of Zulu’s most popular floats today features a giant figure of Louis Armstrong.

In 1952 Louis Armstrong wrote a four-page letter to a reporter for the New Orleans Item describing his historic reign as Zulu. Now in the collection of the Louisiana State Museum, the letter is both a priceless piece of history and wonderful example of Armstrong’s exuberant writing style.

Download Louis' Full Letter