High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Last Island hurricane of 1856 was an intense Atlantic hurricane that destroyed Last Island in southern Louisiana. The first tropical cyclone, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season, it rapidly intensified before making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. The powerful winds and storm surge of 9–10 feet destroyed the island, which was a popular tourist resort. The cyclone killed more than 200 people. See also: Last Island, Louisiana#Resort at Last Island