You might be surprised to learn that Louisiana is home to many inventions that contributed to advancements in everything from sweets to science. Sure, you may know all of the delicious foods that were invented in Louisiana, and those are definitely on this list, but Louisiana has played a part in much more than just the culinary scene, and these 10 inventions prove it.

1. Licensed Pharmacy

Prior to the 1800s, it didn’t take much to open your own shop and sell whatever concoctions you believed would cure ailments, but Louisiana changed that in 1804 when it became the first state to require licenses for pharmacists. In 1816, Louis Dufilho Jr. became the first licensed pharmacist in America, and you can still visit the pharmacy today.

2. Cotton Candy

So this one can get a bit sticky (pun intended). There are several versions of cotton candy's origin story. Some believe it got its start in Europe in the 19th century, and some historians even think it can be traced back to Italy as early as the 15th century. We do know, however, that in 1897, William Morrison and John C. Wharton teamed up to invent machine-spun candy and introduced it at the World’s Fair in 1904. Unsurprisingly, it was a huge hit. In 1921, New Orleanian Joseph Lascaux invented a similar machine and gave it the name "cotton candy," which eventually replaced "fairy floss" (although Australians still prefer the term fairy floss over cotton candy). Fun fact: both William Morrison and Joseph Lascaux were dentists!

3. Tabasco

That famous little red-capped bottle has roots right here in the Pelican State! It was invented in 1868 by Edmund McIlhenny. To this day, Tabasco is still a family-owned and operated business that’s still producing that spicy pepper sauce on the same island it was a century ago. If you’ve never been to Avery Island, take a day trip! You can tour the plant, dine at the on-site restaurant, and explore the beautiful Jungle Gardens and Bird City while you’re there.

4. Music

While we can’t claim all of music, there are a few specific genres that we proudly recognize as Louisiana-made. Zydeco and jazz laid the foundations for countless musicians to be inspired by.

5. Binocular Microscope

We have Tulane chemistry professor John Leonard Riddell to thank for inventing the first practical microscope that transformed the trajectory of science as we know it!

6. Cocktails

You’re welcome, world. Leave it to New Orleans to create the very first cocktail, the Sazerac. It was invented by Antoine Amadie Peychaud and easily paved the way for future cocktails to be made across bars all over the world.

7. Food

Beignets, bananas foster, oysters Rockefeller, gumbo, po’boys, jambalaya… there are so many delicious dishes that got their start right here in Louisiana, we could easily dedicate an article just to foods invented in Louisiana. Oh wait, we already did...

8. Smoothie King

Another New Orleans creation, Steve Kuhnau opened "The Smoothie Bar" in 1973 in Kenner, Louisiana as an answer to poor nutrition in the Crescent City. It didn’t take long for it to franchise out, and today Smoothie King operates hundreds of locations in the United States as well as locations in South Korea, the Cayman Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago.

9. Poker

One of the earliest forms of poker got its start on the docks of New Orleans. Originally called "poque," it was a popular game enjoyed by sailors, fishermen, and traveling merchants before it crept into New Orleans saloons and underground gambling dens. As the game traveled up and down the Mississippi River, more and more people were introduced to the game.

10. Venetian Blinds

While Englishman Edward Bevan invented the first-ever Venetian blinds, it was New Orleanian John Hampson that made a very crucial adjustment to them in 1841, adding a pulley system so that you could easily open and close them.

How many of these inventions did you know about? Louisiana has even more awesome claims to fame, like the Louisiana State Arboretum, the oldest state-supported arboretum in the country. Have you ever been?