[laughter] calexico watch this and many other booktv programs for the past 20 years online at booktv.org check the authors name and book into the search bar at the top of the page. >> welcome to lake charles louisiana. this southwestern louisiana city of 72,000 is located on the banks of the calcasieu and north of the gulf of mexico. explorers came here after louisiana purchase in 1803. it was incorporated as a town of charleston in 1861. later named for its founder, charles transected a petrochemical manufacturing and tourism form the foundation of the local economy. with the help of our cable partners, for the next 90 minutes we will learn about the cities history and future its local authors. we begin our special feature with the history of the city. >> lake charles is a southwest corner of louisiana. 30 miles from the gulf of mexico. in the very southwest, the hill of louisiana. it is a boot and that part of louisiana that sort of bridges the west to the south and the creole in the cage and and the western culture and southern culture. it started at the end of the 18th century, there