Haunted New Orleans

As I had mentioned in a previous article, New Orleans is the most haunted city in the United States. The history is stronger than anyone can rhetorically create. New Orleans was created on a vast swamp that once was a sacred Indian burial place. The French saw New Orleans as a profitable trading city due to its location on the Mississippi. The rich, though, had no taste with living in this city so the King of France sent over the extra laborers from the prison to build the city so it can grow and prosper and become the city of dreams.

Those who were among the first to populate this city included murderers, thieves, rapists and common criminals. The living conditions were deplorable. Harsh elements, quick sand, alligators, venomous snakes, mosquitoes and disease were rampant. The murder rate was high. Major fires devoured the city, numerous hurricanes, wars, and yellow fever epidemics over hundreds of years created excellent conditions for ghosts and haunting.

The Haunted Mansion

Let’s start with the well known haunted mansion that was once owned by Delphine LaLaurie who was one of the key players in the dark history of New Orleans. It all started in 1831 when the LaLuries purchased the mansion on Royal Street. Delphine insisted on maintaining center position of social circles by throwing lavishing parties, and entertaining prominent people in the city. She was also known for her well-behaved slaves.

The crime that shocked the city beyond belief happened in 1834. Delphine was preparing for the finest evening party to impress the rich of the city. The cuisine, decorations and other items were of their finest. Her slaves polished up the silver to perfection. Her dress for the evening was even breathtaking. This was to be her most elaborate celebration to date.

She remained in her room as the guests arrived so her entrance would receive the most attention and make a big impression. A 12-year old slave girl named Leah was combing Delphine’s long hair. She happened to hit a snag, and pulled her hair. Because the child done that, Madame reached into a drawer and pulled out a bullwhip. She chased the child around the room in attempt to beat her. Leah ran out of the room to a balcony and climbed onto the railing in attempt to flee from Delphine. She lost her footing and plunged to the courtyard below and her body hit the ground at Delphone’s cousin was stepping out of his carriage.

Charges of abuse were brought upon her and she lost ownership of the slaves. They were sold at a public auction and Delphine convinced a relative to purchase the slaves for her. Another incident was about to happen.

The slaves started a fire on the kitchen in hopes to bring attention to the activities inside the house. When the fire brigade came, the slaves led then to the attic. Screams and cries could be heard through the door where the slaves led the fire brigade. They knocked the door down and the smell of death permeated the air around. A dozen or so slaves in the room had been victims of cruel medical experimentations. They were chained to the walls, maimed and disfigured.

Their faces were so disfigured they looked like gargoyles rather than human beings. One man was victim of a sex change operation. A woman who broke free was in fear of more torture when the fire brigade came to their rescue that she jumped through a window….falling to her death. Another woman had her arms amputated and her skin peeled off in a circular pattern. Another woman was found in a cage for the size of a small dog. When the rescuers broke the cage open, they found that LaLaurie had broken all her joints, resetting them at odd angles so she resembled a human crab. On the shelves around the room, were jars of body parts.

As the survivors were removed and brought outside, guests from the party assembled outside. When they saw what kind of people the LaLauries were, they decided to ransack the house in search for the LaLauries. They were never found and thought to have resettled in the northern part of New Orleans near Mandeville.

To this day screams and cries can be heard from within the mansion. Visions of a large male covered in chains is seem walking the balcony. Animals were found decapitated in the courtyard. There are even reports of a man who wonders around the courtyard holding his head in his hands.

Eventually the house was renovated into apartments as it currently stands today. To this day, this house is considered to be the most haunted in the city.

Andrew Jackson Hotel

This old “adults only” hotel was once the former site of an all-boys boarding school that was destroyed during the New Orleans fire of 1700’s. Five boys died in the fire. Guests have reported hearing the boys laughing and playing outside in the courtyard of this hotel. Others have reported seeing apparitions of a general who resembled Andrew Jackson.

Beauregard House

The Beauregard-Keys house is haunted by a man named Paul Munni. He was a world-class chess master, who went insane. In his fits of manic, Munni would run in the nude down the street with an axe, looking to kill anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path. To this day, at night, his screams and piano can be heard. This house also happens to be the sight of a mafia massacre. In the gardens you can smell gunpowder and sometimes hear shots being fired.

Bourbon Street

Apparitions of a mob beating each other up with curtain rods can be seen on Bourbon Street.

The Castle Inn

Located in the Garden District of New Orleans, it houses couple of ghosts. A black man was burned in the wood shed. People can see smoke coming from the wood shed that currently is found at the Castle Inn. There is also a ghostly figure of a little girl who just wants to play with those who come to visit.

Flannagan’s Café and Pub

The former owners sister, Angela, committed suicide in the ladies restroom. To this day, she has been seen and felt roaming the grounds of the restaurant.

Le Richelieu Hotel

This site at one time was used as an execution ground. In 1802, when France took back Louisiana from Spain, several Spanish soldiers were shot for treason. The ghosts of some of these Spanish soldiers have been reported to walk the grounds of this hotel.

Lafitte Guest House

In room 21, a mother and her 2 daughters died. The first daughter died from yellow fever. Then, a few years later, the other daughter hung herself in the same room. The mother spends the rest of her life grieving over her loss. She later dies alone and heartbroken in that same room. The mother can be heard crying from the room. People get an overwhelming feeling of grief and despair when they enter the room.

Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre

A young bride on the day of her wedding, jumped from the side of the roof that overlooked the courtyard. Many people have seen her standing at the place where she jumped. Also there have been experiences of cold spots in the courtyard, and in the fountain at night you can see the reflection of the girl standing where she fell. Another story of a ghost takes place on the second story in the theatre. When people would return to their seats after a brief absence, an old man would be sitting in their spot reading a newspaper, wearing old-time clothing.

The Morgue bar and lounge

This building was built in 1849 and was originally used as the city’s first integrated mortuary, particularly during the huge yellow fever epidemic of 1853. Ten thousand people died in New Orleans that year. Though paranormal activity has been recorded in the main bar area, the most well known haunting here is of the mortician’s daughter. She used to steal jewelry from the dead….and still borrows items from unsuspecting ladies who use the women’s restroom. The restroom area was once the place where the bodies were stored.

Myrtle Inn Plantation

A slave poisoned her owners’ wife and two children to make them sick and nurse them back to health so she would not be sent to the fields. During one of the meals she overdosed the poison and the three died. She eventually confessed to what she done and was hung. The spirits are seen in various places. The wife is seen in the staircase. The children are seen playing in the rooms and front lawn. The slave has also been seen around the house. There is also a hand print that appears on a mirror on the main floor; no matter how many times the glass is replaced.

O’Flaherty’s Irish Channel Pub

There are a couple ghosts that haunt this place. One is a former owner who is looking for something, but seems to never find it. There is another former owner who killed his secretary when she wouldn’t have an affair with him then killed himself. Both are seen lurking about. There is also a little boy who became separated from his mom in the French Quarter and died. He still wanders about, looking for his mother. He came into O’Flaherty’s and one of the other ghosts seems to have taken him in.

The Super Dome

During Hurricane Katrina, numerous people were killed in the Super Dome. There were two suicides, people were raped and murdered, and others died from natural causes. Apparitions roam around during games and throughout the day.

St. Louis Cathedral

Occasionally on early morning rain storms, the spirit of Pere Dagobert can be heard singing the “Kyrie.” The voice travels from St. Louis Cathedral to St. Louis Cemetery.

Holly Ridge railroad tracks

A long time ago there was the conductor of the train and his worker got into a fight and the worker decapitated the conductor. The conductor comes back every night in a red orb. It can be seen floating down the railroad tracks.