On this day in 1803 the Lousiana Purchase was completed in a ceremony in New Orleans. The greatest achievement in the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. America got 828,000 square miles of France’s claim to the territory of Louisiana for 15 million dollars which is less than 3 cents an acre. In today’s money it would be $233 million for all that land, less than 42 cents per acre. The greatest deal in American history. Second best deal- the Yankees getting Babe Ruth from the Red Sox.

The Louisiana territory encompassed all or part of 15 U.S. States. I call that a bargain. $15 million dollars!!