Rayne, Louisiana proudly calls itself the “Frog Capital of the World,” and the many decorated frog statues you see around town are a fun expression of that identity.

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The tradition goes back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, when local entrepreneurs like Jacques Weil and others built a successful business harvesting and exporting bullfrogs, especially their legs, to restaurants in New Orleans, France, and beyond. This booming trade made frogs a defining part of the town’s history.

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Today, the city celebrates that heritage by placing concrete frog figures outside businesses and public buildings. A local beautification board gives these statues to merchants, who then paint and dress them with names and outfits that reflect their business or personality, from judges and chefs to gardeners and other imaginative themes.

These whimsical frog statues, along with murals and an annual Frog Festival, make frogs a playful and beloved symbol of Rayne’s culture and community pride.