Haunted New Orleans

Haunted New Orleans? Yes, as a matter of fact, New Orleans has been deemed as one of the most haunted places in all of the United States. Once a swamp that was used by the Native Americans as a place to bury their dead, New Orleans has a history like no other city in the Nation. In the year of 1718, the French decided to use the area. The King at the time that this occurred sent a vast number of the individuals who were held as prisoners to start the transformation of a wet, swampland into a city – the haunted New Orleans that we know today.

The first civilians to live in New Orleans were not exactly the “neighborly” type. As a matter of fact, most of the individuals who originally resided in this area were hardened criminals. The basic living conditions were not sound as it was man versus nature in every single way that you could imagine. There were tropical conditions that swept in from the Gulf of Mexico, like tropical storms and hurricanes. Then, there were wild animals that were native to the area like ferocious alligators, sickening mosquitoes, and even poisonous snakes and insects. Then, of course, there were the outbreaks of dangerous diseases – especially yellow fever.

Needless to say, New Orleans was literally a “breeding ground” for the soon to occur “hauntings”…..

One of the real ghost stories that surround the area of haunted New Orleans has to do with the voodoo queen herself, Marie Laveau. Many slaves and other individuals arrived to New Orleans, bringing with them a deep rooted religion – voodoo. Even today, you can still see that this particular type of religious practice is still evident. During the time in which the owners of the slaves forbade the individuals from practicing their religion, it was believed by the whites and other individuals in society that these individuals carried an ominous power that could endanger the lives of those around them. This is especially true when the civilians heard about the voodoo queen, Marie.

Marie Laveau was born to a colored lady, and a white man. Considering the fact that she was born having a white father, this freed her from the bondage of slavery. She eventually grew and discovered a black man who was also considered to be free from the bondage of slavery. However, it was not long until this man passed away and she eventually married another individual. During her lifetime, she bore what is believed to be about fifteen different children. In the meantime, she decided to start a career in styling the hair of various individuals in the city. It was also at this time that she joined the network of the occult which was dark, and actually forbidden – the voodoo occult in her area.

Eventually, in an effort to bring the practice to light without the grief of the civilians in the area, Marie started to bring in symbolism from the Catholic Church as a sort of “cover up” for the practice. However, without anyone ever knowing, in the year of 1881, she passed away. Fortunately, for her followers, her daughter, who was also known by Marie, played the same role that her mother played. However, several decades later, the daughter also passed away. For the followers, and now several other believers, these two seem to haunt the area of the St. Louis Cemetery # 1. Many individuals have stated that they have been physically attacked by the spirits while in the haunted cemetery. The individuals who practice voodoo today claim that the spirit of these women come alive in the celebration of St. John’s Eve. Then, there are some who claim that she will simply walk along in the cemetery, or stand in front of her tomb to observe the many offerings that have been left in dedication to her. If you want to experience haunted New Orleans, a trip to the St. Louis Cemetery #1 is an absolute must.

There is another popular haunting in the haunted New Orleans history. This has to do with a haunted mansion in the city that belonged to Delphine LaLaurie, and her husband, Dr. Louis LaLaurie. Unfortunately, there were several incidents in which she was accused of abusing the slaves who served her in an unreasonable manner. One night, a twelve year old girl slave, who was attempting to flee from her actually lost her balance and fell from a balcony, which resulted in her death. As time progressed, several other incidents occurred, including a fire in which slaves were found to be chained to the stove, the walls, beaten, and more.

As a result of the cruelty that occurred in this home, many individuals claim that they can hear the screams and cries of the slaves who were tortured to this day. Many believe that the spirit of the small slave children can be seen walking the grounds, in a very cautious manner. In many instances, slaves have been seen running away from the house of horrors in which they served, only to then disappear in thin air. Many believe that the house was cursed, and would not go near it. However, about four decades later, it was purchased and new people moved in. Several strange situations occurred to the Italian family. Animals were found dead and decapitated in the yard, the children were chased by a spirit with a whip, and several other unexplained phenomenons occurred.

These stories are just a couple from the haunted New Orleans!

There are many guided tours, and ghost tours in New Orleans that will tell of the haunted history of the town. If you are driving through, you may want to take the time to relish in haunted New Orleans and experience some of the spooky stories yourself!

Spooky but fun - A nighttime walking tour of the French Quarter is sure to give you goose bumps! See why New Orleans has been referred to as ''The most haunted city in America.''

Ghosts and Spirits Nighttime Walking Tour of New Orleans

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