Rayne, LA: Frog Capital of the World

Small towns have a need to proclaim their place in the sun. In the process, some have some extraordinary claims to fame.

Rayne, Louisiana styles itself "The Frog Capital of the World." And they have an amusing statue of a top-hatted frog:

Rayne is also known as The City of Murals. Often these are frog-themed. Here's a few to inform and mostly entertain you:

Clearly, this is a place where Kermit would feel at home. After all, it isn't easy being green! There's even more; some neat statuary in front of stores:

Why did Rayne become so froggy? Well, it seems that a restauranteur from New York City tried some, liked them, and added them to the menu. They were a hit. And other restaurants started featuring frogs' legs. And eventually the town started shipping them to Paris and other places on the Continent. No, the French were referred to as 'frogs' much earlier, because of this dietary proclivity they already supposedly had. But that's another story.

It's not hard being green in Rayne, Louisiana.