History of the Fleur de Lis in New Orleans

The fleur de lis originates from ancient Babylon and was adopted by manky French kings and aristocrats as France was coming out of the dark ages. When explorer Sieur de La Salle explored the Mississippi Valley, he planted a white flag with three gold fleur de lis on it. Although the territory passed from France to Spain and from Spain the the US, the lily remained the enduring symbol of New Orleans. Countless number of French and Louisianian artists have used the fleur de lis, each in his or her unique way, as there is no one "correct" way to draw it. In more recent time, it has become the symbol for the New Orlean Saints football team and as a symbol fro grassroot support for the city's recovery following the Hurrican Katrina disaster.