This National Park Was Named After a Pirate
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- Опубліковано 30 тра 2022
- Jean Lafitte was a pirate. And Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve was named after him. He’s a complicated man - and we really don’t even know that much about him. We don’t know when or where he was born or died, if he was married or if he had children, heck, we don’t even know how to spell his name properly.
But the things we do know about Jean Lafitte, that he was in Louisiana in the early nineteenth century, that he smuggled goods and slaves into New Orleans, and that he was a key player in the Battle of New Orleans, only serve to grow the legend of this pirate smuggler slave-trader war hero.
He inspired the character of Jean LaFoote on the Captain Crunch cereal box, his anchor is supposedly displayed at Disneyland California, he has been the subject of two films, both titled The Buccaneer, and countless other books and media have been inspired by him.
My question was: why? Why did we name a National Park after the pirate Jean Lafitte? I’ve set out to answer that question for you here. I hope you enjoy it.
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Also, all credit to my wife for the "plundering patriot" line 😂
Hey there everyone! Just wanted to drop in and let you all know that National Park Diaries is now on PATREON! If you're so inclined, you can help support the channel even more and help me tell bigger and better park stories. I've got some great park-related benefits over there, including Discord access, early ad-free videos, voting privileges, and I've even set up a book club. See ya there! www.patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
I like how this started with activists saying “we want to preserve the swamps,” the government saying “no the swamps are not that important,” and the activists saying “but we’ll name it after a pirate”
They made them an offer they couldn't refuse lol
That's one of the coolest pirate stories I've ever heard. A true legend.
Yeah, didn't know when I started this channel that I'd find a story that intersected with National Park and pirates, yet here we are...
“It’s Jean Lafitte!” - Dallin from Offhand Disney, probably
Excellent video! I couldn't wait for this one. I love a good pirate story:)
Thank you!
Wait. I need a video about Nixon trying to stop the Parks from expanding
You might be right actually. I think I could make that work!
I'm a recent follower & except for those in AK, on Molokai, and overseas territories, I've been to every single NHP Park, Memorial, Battlefield, Historic Site, Trail, etc... And I just have to say how much I'm enjoying going through the back videos.
Some of it is familiar but I've yet to watch one that I didn't learn something new, sparking a renewed interest to visit them all again. (Not likely until after retirement unless I win the lottery or inherit a fortune.)
With budget cutting & the lack of funding to what I'd argue is the best use of public tax money, voices like yours do a wonderful job of bringing the park properties to the masses that might never get a chance to visit.
Thank you for being so interested & enthusiastic about these locations & for telling their stories.
Wow, that's impressive! I'm sure you've seen your share of incredible places - I hope to do the same one day! I'm so glad you're enjoying the videos. The heart of this channel is to help people learn about and enjoy the world's wonderful protected places. Thanks for watching and supporting the channel!
@@NationalParkDiaries I hope you get the chance as well; it was money well-spent as one of our family mottos is "The only things worth spending money on are travel & education." We just combined them!
Started out as I realized the lack of subject coverage in my kid's education while looking over the future elementary school curricula. (The summer before Kindergarten.) So, I became THAT mom making their kids spend some portion of spring & winter break as well as summer vacay making their kid learn something. (He's got almost 200 Jr. Ranger badges, too!)
Little did I know how much **I** would learn as well.
Will definitely continue to watch, and when I'm asked about a park, I'll be sure to send them here if you have a vid.
Thank you again!
@@sujimtangerines That's an excellent family motto, I couldn't agree more! I'm so glad to know there's people like you out there helping the next generation to learn about our wonderful parks and protected lands. Thanks for your support!
Being a pirate doesn't mean you're always a bad guy. My oldest American ancestor was a shipbuilder turned pirate according to the records, and I've found that this time matches up more or less with the Revolution at hand.
I really can't say what he was doing, but I find it somewhat likely he was helping out by raiding British or just Loyalist ships in general before a cannonball took his head off (that part about the manner of his death seems to be confirmed), probably with a ship he'd had built for himself before he said goodbye to the family and left to go plunder the government during the rebellion.
I guess you're right about the legendary status of not knowing a lot lends to a person's life. As much as I want to learn more about him and fill in the record, maybe his own legend becomes much larger when there's more gaps to fill in.
He sounds like a privateer
Since this is _technically_ a National Historic Park, will you be going over other National Historic Parks?
Yep! My general rule is that as long as it's a protected area and I can find a good story to tell, I'll tell it!
@@NationalParkDiaries, well, if that’s the case, I’d certainly suggest you take a look at some of the National Battlefield Parks around Richmond, Virginia.
For instance, both Gaines Mill National Battlefield Park and Cold Harbor National Battlefield Park - both less than a mile apart - have family residences on their premises. The Watt House and the Garthright House are technically private residences, but are protected by the NPS due to their historic significance.
Both homes were around during the American Civil War and were at the epicenter of one of two battles to take place in the region; Gaines’ Mill and Cold Harbor.
@@MatthewChenault I'll certainly take a look, thanks for the suggestions!
@@NationalParkDiaries I have a request, I love geology....
Any volcanic national park! So Lassen, Hawaii volcanoes, Mt. St Helens, Mt rainier....
@@RD1R I've got a few ideas for those. Thanks for feedback, I'll add them to the list!
Great story. I am going around the world with you, my sweet grandson. Thanks
Thanks!
I absolutely love your videos, and am very glad to have found your channel. I’m originally from Washington state and was curious if you are familiar with the devastation caused by mountain goats in Olympic National park and the semi-recent relocation of them.. there are some really funny pictures of mountain goats wearing goggles being airlifted out of the park!
Thanks for being here, we're glad to have you! And no, I had no idea about the mountain goats. But I have to look into this now because I can't get that image out of my brain lol
My wife grew up about an hour away from Acadia National Park in Maine, and we never knew the connection between that and Louisiana Acadians until today. I’d love if you could do a video on that park as well!
There's so many stories I could tell about Acadia! I'll get there one day, thanks for watching!
You should definitely read "Evangeline" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The poem follows an Acadian girl named Evangeline and her search for her lost love Gabriel during the time of the Expulsion of the Acadians. It defines both Acadian history and identity in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Another excellent story! I am so happy I found your channel and subscribed. Keep the wonderful content coming!
Thanks David, much appreciated!
I just imagine a conversation from monty python with the Frenchman in the castle. I'm sure Capt Jean Lafette had an outrageous french accent! ....and probably a grail hidden in his pirate treasure hoard!
Haha, he'd be perfect for a Monty Python sketch!
I went here in February. I had no idea he had a town and park named after him. It was a treat going there since I am big on History and especially the war of 1812. Lovely place.
Nice, glad you enjoyed your visit! I found a lot of things with Jean Lafitte are just a mystery lol. There's just so much we didn't know about him, but he's such a mythical figure at this point - just a fascinating person.
I was in Houma during deep water horizon. Beautiful area (when it’s above water) but I had no idea that is was basically all a national park!
It's an incredibly diverse park! So much history and culture and ecology there!
thanks for another great video! was not expecting Captain Crunch out of nowhere xD
The Captain Crunch thing blew my mind lol. Thanks for watching!
Maybe connect with The History Guy. He has a knack for finding obscure "history that should be remembered." He's also known to say, "Don't all good stories contain pirates?!"
Really loved this one! Fascinating history and ecology. 💚🌎✌️😎
Thanks for watching Erin, glad you liked it!
great vid bro
Thank you!
I was just in New Orleans this past weekend. I think we are linked somehow. Appreciate this content.
Thank you! I love New Orleans, it's such a fun and lively city.
Back in 1991/1992 while I was volunteering at Harper's Ferry Interpretive Design Center, I came across a VHS tape which had a bunch of Cajun jokes on it, in both English and French (audio only). I was told it was one idea for a display in the new Jean Lafitte NP museum. The idea was a visitor would press a button and get a random Cajun joke. Don't know if they ever developed the display or not. I think I have a copy of that tape in storage. Next time I'm going through those boxes I will look for it and if I still have it will post them on my UA-cam channel.
Interesting piece of history, thanks for sharing!
Oh les Acadians, ils sont tous marveloux.
Vivre la memoir de la bon Jean Laffite.
That was such a good thumbnail
Haha, thank you!
I would like to see an episode on the Vicksburg National Military Park especially looking at how big it was compared to how small it is now.
Huh, never knew it had its boundaries shrunk that significantly. Do you have a good resource I could look into this more?
@@NationalParkDiaries In the late 1950s, a portion of the park was transferred to the city as a local park in exchange for closing local roads running through the remainder of the park. It also allowed for the construction of Interstate 20. The monuments in land transferred to the city are still maintained by the NPS. As with all historic areas administered by the NPS, the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
If I remember correctly, the park used to extend south of Clay Street with the current entrance to the park on the northside of Clay street.
Anecdotally, I remember visiting the park in the late 1960s with my family. At that time the park had some features that were no longer available when I went back to the park in 2018. For example, I remember we parked at one monument site and was able to actually walk through a trench area looking towards the Yazoo river and the cemetery. I also remember that at one time there was a monument for each state which had soldiers that participated in the battle.
@@NationalParkDiaries An episode on the USS Cairo, the ironclad that was sunk during the siege would be interesting for some. It was raised and is now on display at the park along with a small museum dedicated to it.
Very interesting info, thanks for sharing and I'll be sure to put this on my list of potential videos. Appreciate you taking the time to comment!
I was in that park ( the main section) in September. Got to see some alligators on a short nature path. It is problematic it is named after someone who is believed to smuggled humans to be slaves. I wonder how long before the park has to be renamed.
hehe John "Le Feet"
Cap'n Crunch wasn't far off with Jean LaFoote lol
Everyone loves pirates !
I grew up in this park grandpaw still lives there
Very nice. Was this the Barataria Unit?
@@NationalParkDiaries crown point Louisiana
Channel number 2: National Forest Diaries episode #1 BWCA.....
Haha, I'm still trying to get this one off the ground! I think I'll stick with the one for now lol
As The History Guy says. All good stories involve pirates.
This was a strange one, for sure.
Wow amazing 🎉 ♥️ Pirate You Tube channel as good news.
Haha, I talk about parks more than pirates on this channel, but when they overlap... 👌
Thanks for your love comment 🎉 ♥️ 😎
The University of New Orleans nickname is the Privateers
Jean Lafitte faked his death and moved to Lincolnton, NC under the name of Lorenzo Ferrer where he died at the age of 96 in 1875. Some local women found some old documents then his sword with his initials which added to this theory. I lived in LA for many years and I ended up near where he ended up, I've stood at his grave. If it's true that is.
That's just a theory with only the evidence you named, so that's not a lot of evidence.
I looked into that as well. I hesitated to include it in the video simply because the jury still seems to be out on the accuracy of that account. Thanks for the input though!
@@NationalParkDiaries yeah man! Keep up the videos I enjoy them. You should do some on the Appalachians.
@@Fuzzynutz117 Oh, I'll definitely being doing some future Appalachians videos. One of my favorite places on Earth.
"Privateer if you please"😉
That's certainly what Lafitte would have said lol!
I don't wanna be a Pirate!
Am I alone in thinking that Cajun and Asian are not rhyming words?
You seem pretty alone
Thank you. Lol everyone loves a bad guy!
Thanks for watching Joanna!
He was not a pirate.
No matter what others say.
He was a noble man. Even though, some pirates were noble.
Gesus. You really think he was a pirate?
Lol.
No really I didn't know anyone didn't consider him as a pirate.
Its not even like he was a pirate for a short time. And did it unnoticed.
Freak, his name is up there with Calico Jack.
There were plenty of pirates that didn't make a name for themselves. Did it. Made some cabbage and stopped before they had a name.
I loved this video but I really wish you would not have included the "F**K" caption for the King. I am still going to show it and HOPE the students don't make a huge deal of it. Honestly, it wasn't necessary to the gist of the story.
A legenda di Pamelarioss.Uno snowquen hè u mo idolu. Hè a persona chì aspiru à essej, hè a mo luce di ghjornu