690. Derby Gisclair. Dueling, Part 1.

Part 1 of Derby Gisclair's presentation on dueling in old New Orleans. Derby is a New Orleans historian, author, and researcher specializing in 19th-century Gulf Coast culture, social customs, and affairs of honor. Known for his deep archival work, Gisclair unpacks how rituals like dueling under the Dueling Oaks defined Southern gentlemanly culture, local politics, and public life in early New Orleans.

1. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!
2. This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Christian Woman's Exchange. Creole Cookery Book. It's a fund raiser for a Christian charity. They still own the Hermann-Grima House, which is now a museum. And they still cook these old recipes there.
   Epicurean Oysters.
   Take 3 tablespoonfuls of butter, one of strong, dry mustard; put them in a chopping dish; add pepper and salt; when they commence boiling put in one-half pint of oysters without the liquor; have a hot dish in readiness. Take out the oysters with a fork when cooked, and continue to replace them until all are done.
3. This week in Louisiana history. August 7 1927 Gov. Edwin Edwards born in Marksville, La., son of a sharecropper and a local midwife, a Cajun.
4. This week in New Orleans history. August 7, 1956: The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway officially opened, becoming the longest continuous bridge over water in the world.
5. This week in Louisiana.
   Visit Louisiana's Old State Capitol
   Year‑Round Attraction
   100 North Blvd.
   Baton Rouge, LA 70801
   Website: louisianaoldstatecapitol.org
   Louisiana's Old State Capitol is a National Historic Landmark overlooking the Mississippi River, known for its dramatic Gothic Revival architecture and its role in the state's political history. Built between 1847 and 1852, the structure resembles a medieval castle from the outside, while the interior features marble, rich woodwork, and a soaring stained‑glass dome. Today, it houses the Museum of Political History, offering exhibits on Louisiana's governors, the democratic process, and pivotal moments such as the state's 1861 secession and the impeachment proceedings of Gov. Huey P. Long.
• Architecture: A Gothic Revival 'castle on the river,' complete with towers, battlements, and a cast‑iron spiral staircase.
• Stained‑Glass Dome: One of the most photographed interiors in Louisiana ' a kaleidoscope of color rising above the central rotunda.
• Political History Museum: Exhibits on voting, citizenship, past governors, and major legislative events that shaped the state.
• Free Admission: The museum offers free entry, with guided group tours available Tuesday through Friday and audio tours in four languages.
6. Postcards from Louisiana.